IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine head women's volleyball coach Ashlie Hain announced the signing of Nicole Feliciano and Maia Neiman who will be joining transfers Ella Gardiner, Lexi Gruszczynski, Hunter Riedl, Becca Sakuda and Isabella Scarlett on the Anteater roster this Fall. 

"This is probably one of the best groups of incoming players I have had here at UC Irvine," Hain said.  "They all have had an incredible amount of success at their previous programs and are excited to be Anteaters. One thing they all have in common is that they have overcome significant adversity in some way and are using this opportunity to prove they can win in The Big West. They all are also exceptional students and great fits for the UC Irvine campus."

Nicole Feliciano
S/RS, 5-10, Freshman, Aliso Viejo, Calif./Alison Niguel HS
Led Aliso Niguel to the 2021 CIF SS Div 2 Championship…Named South Coast League MVP…Honored as 2022 Aliso Nigel MVP after guiding the team to a 19-7 record…Played for Tstreet Volleyball Club, joining former teammate Maia Niemen at UCI. 

COACH HAIN SAID:
"Nicole is a natural leader and has a high volleyball IQ. She has played at an elite level throughout her high school career. She will compete for a starting position right away as a true freshman."

Maia Neiman
OH/L, 6-0, Freshman, El Toro, Calif./El Toro HS
Hails from El Toro High School where she was honored as Sea View League MVP…Earned Charger of the Year as well as Athlete of Character at El Toro…sister Savannah played at Cal Poly…Competed for TStreet Volleyball Club with Nicole Feliciano. 

 
COACH HAIN SAID:
"Maia is a deceptively good volleyball player and can play multiple positions.  She is an outstanding teammate and I look forward to having her in the program."

 Lexi Gruszczynski 
L, 5-8, Junior, San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS/Cal
Returning to the volleyball court in 2023…Last played at Cal where she played in four matches, seeing action in 13 sets in the spring of 2021…Had 36 digs overall, recording a career-best 14 digs versus UCLA…Named First Team All-South Coast League at San Clemente High School in 2018…Member of the team that were the 2018 Sea View League Champions…Played for Club A4...Earned All-Tournament Team at 2017 nationals…Team was third in 2015 SCVA 14's. 

COACH HAIN SAID:
"Lexi has an incredible story of overcoming adversity and perseverance. She shines on the volleyball court as an elite ball control player. She will make our defense one of the best in the conference."

Ella Gardiner  
MB, 6-0, Junior, Christchurch, New Zealand/San Clemente HS/Fairfield 
Averaged 1.98 kills and 1.11 blocks last season at Fairfield…Played in 99 sets recording 193 kills which was second on the team…Saw action in 30 matches, playing in 97 sets as a sophomore…Averaged 1.43 kills per set and a team-best 1.14 blocks…Hit .281…Notched double-figure kills three times, recording a season-best 12 on .476 hitting in the MAAC Quarterfinal win at Siena…Team advanced to the NCAA Championship First Round where she totaled eight blocks in a loss to the Bruins, the most by a Stag player in an NCAA postseason match…named to the MAAC All-Academic Team…In spring of 2021, she was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Mar. 23…Team went 59-17 while she was at Fairfield…Hails from Christchurch, New Zealand, but prepped at San Clemente High School…Two-time All-League as well as  Orange County Register Outstanding Female Competitor…Also played basketball, earning league MVP and First Team All-County accolades…Honored as the San Clemente Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior and received the Princeton Club of Orange County Award for Leadership. 

COACH HAIN SAID:
"Ella is still developing as a volleyball player and already has post-season experience. She plays with a lot of energy and intensity. UC Irvine is a great fit for her, and she will be able to play in front of a home crowd."

Hunter Riedl  
OPP/OH, 6-1, Senior, Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills/Sacred Heart
Transfer from Sacred Heart….Had a career-best performance against Omaha with 12 kills and 12 digs…Averaged 2.00 kills, 1.93 digs and 0.73 blocks as a junior…As a sophomore, she logged nine kills and three aces versus Merrimack….Four-time first-team All-Conference honoree from Dana Hills High School…helped the Dolphins to league titles twice and CIF appearances all four years…Named Rookie of the Year and Scholar-Athlete, earning President's Education Award for GPA between 3.83 and 3.99…Played for Laguna Beach Volleyball Club…,Team had top-three finishes. 

COACH HAIN SAID:
"Hunter is passionate about representing UC Irvine volleyball in her post-graduate career. She hits a heavy ball and is as competitive as they come. She has family that are UCI Alumni as well. I look forward to having her as part of the offense."

Becca Sakoda  
DS/Libero, 5-9, Junior, Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani School/Illinois 
Transfer from Illinois…Saw action in 75 sets, adding 49 digs and seven set assists…Played in nine matches, seeing action in 13 sets as a freshman…collected three digs on the season…Member of the Illini squad that went 22-12 overall and advanced to NCAA Regional Semifinals…Was prepped at Iolani School, garnering ScoringLive All-Hawaii Girls Volleyball Honorable Mention and Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) Girls Varsity 1 Volleyball All-Star Honorable Mention in 2019…Raiders were Hawaii D-I Volleyball State Championship in 2018 and a runner-up in 2017 as well as a first-place finish in the Ann Kang Invitational in 2017 and 2018…Played for Kuikahi Volleyball Club…Helped team to a silver medal at the 2019 USAV Region High Performance Championships and the bronze medal at the 2019 Rebisco Volleyball National Finals as well as third at the Triple Crown Invitational in 18s Elite.

COACH HAIN SAID:
"Becca is exceptional defender and has a natural touch on the ball. She plays with a lot of poise and coming from Illinois should be able to handle the attackers in our conference quite well. Becca is also and high academic student-athlete. I think UC Irvine is a great fit for her to excel athletically and academically."

Isabella Scarlett
Middle Blocker, 6-1, Portland, Ore./Central Catholic HS/UC Riverside 
Transfer from UC Riverside…Played in 108 sets last season, averaging 2.53 kills and 3.01 points per set…Added 18 aces, 84 digs and 62 blocks…Started all 30 matches as a sophomore, averaging 1.60 kills and 0.53 blocks…As a freshman, she was fourth on team with 153 kills and led the squad with a .58 blocking average…posted 10 blocks against Cal State Fullerton (9/24)…Graduated from Central Catholic High School where she was an first team All-State honoree in 2018…Helped CCHS to 34-4-2 record in 2018, finishing fourth at OSAA - 6A championships…Named to the Big West All-Academic while playing for the Highlanders. 

COACH HAIN SAID:
"Isabella plays with incredible intensity and focus. I was always worried about her when we played UCR the last four years. She was a big part of their offense and I look forward to having her on our half of the court. She is also an exceptional student and will be in our Business school's MIE program this fall."