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Volleyball Welcomes Four-Member Member Class of 2025
6/3/2021 10:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University volleyball will welcome four incoming freshmen to the team in the fall as part of the Bears' Class of 2025 Brown head coach Ahen Kim announced on Thursday.
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The class includes student-athletes from across the United States with two players from Texas and one each from Virginia and Illinois. The group gives the Bears balance across the court with two middle blockers, one outside hitter, and one defensive specialist.
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Brown's Class of 2025 includes middle blocker Gabby Derrick (Springfield, Va.), outside hitter Kayla Griebl (Katy, Texas), middle blocker Beau Vanderlaan (Oak Park, Ill.), and libero/defensive specialist Victoria Vo (Wylie, Texas).
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Gabby Derrick
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 5-foot-11
Hometown: Springfield, Va.
High School: Lake Braddock Secondary School
Club Team: Metro Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-Region 6C and First Team All-District, Patriot District in 2021 … Gained Honorable Mention All-Patriot District in 2019 … Garnered the team's Coach's Award in 2017 … Played for head coach Joe Wieland … Competed on the club level for Metro Volleyball Club … National Honor Society member … An AP Scholar with Distinction and A Honor Roll student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because the open curriculum allows me to explore a wide variety of interests along with studying high-level academics. After visiting the campus, the culture and atmosphere made me truly fall in love with Brown. Being able to play competitive volleyball in addition to the academic opportunities made Brown the perfect fit."
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Kayla Griebl
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Katy, Texas
High School: Cinco Ranch
Club Team: Houston Juniors Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-District in 2019 and 2020 … Won Team MVP accolades in 2020 … Helped team win a District 19-6A title in 2019 … Garnered a spot on the 2020 AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List and the 2019 AVCA Phenom List … Selected as a 2020 Vype Houston Preseason Outside Hitter of the Year nominee … Made the 2020 GHVCA Preseason Team 6A … Played for head coach Danielle Wells … Competed on the club level for Houston Juniors Volleyball Club and head coach Kara Pratt … Gained All-Academic and Academic All-State laurels … An AP Scholar and High Honor Roll student.
Why Brown? "It was always my goal to attend a high academic college, so Brown obviously fit into that requirement. Brown's open curriculum also allows me the flexibility and freedom to explore courses outside my major. In talking with current student-athletes, coaching staff and even a chemistry professor, I got a great sense of the Brown culture and felt it was a great fit for me! I was also impressed that the volleyball coach emphasized that even though I will be an athlete, I am a student first and my studies are the highest priority. I am excited to play volleyball for Brown at the Division I level and move the team up the rankings in the conference!"
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Beau Vanderlaan
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6-foot-1
Hometown: Oak Park, Ill.
High School: Fenwick
Club Team: 1st Alliance
Prep Accolades: Earned GCAC Player of the Year honors in 2019-20 … Gained GCAC All-Conference accolades in 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 … Garnered Pioneer Press First Team All-Area in 2019 … Tallied 143 kills (2.34 per set) and 125 blocks (2.05 per set) in 2019-20 … Played for head coach Kathleen O'Laughlin … Competed on the club level for 1st Alliance; Selected for the Prep Volleyball Class of 2021 Watchlist … College Board African American National Recognition and high honor roll student … Gained AAU Academic All-America honors.
Why Brown? "When I visited Brown, the team atmosphere was unlike anywhere else. Everyone was so genuine towards each other and wanted to help one another succeed. Not to mention, Coach Kim's emphasis on technique is exactly the coaching style I need to take my game to the next level."
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Victoria Vo
Position: Libero/Defensive Specialist
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Wylie, Texas
High School: Wylie
Club Team: Dallas Premier Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-League in 2020 … Gained team's Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2020 … Helped lead team to a district title in 2020 … Garnered Honorable Mention All-League in 2017 … Played for coaches Geoff Kiessling, Alex Nolan, Anthony Nguyen, and Tien Phan … Competed on the club level for Dallas Premier Volleyball Club; captained team for four years and placed third at nationals in 2017 … Won club's Team MVP and Most Improved awards … Earned Academic All-District laurels three times … National Honor Society and Honor Roll student.
Why Brown? "Brown's open curriculum allows me to fulfill my educational needs at one of the most prestigious universities. Its flexibility gives me the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love on a collegiate level."
ÂGallery: (6-3-2021) Volleyball Class of 2025
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The class includes student-athletes from across the United States with two players from Texas and one each from Virginia and Illinois. The group gives the Bears balance across the court with two middle blockers, one outside hitter, and one defensive specialist.
Â
Brown's Class of 2025 includes middle blocker Gabby Derrick (Springfield, Va.), outside hitter Kayla Griebl (Katy, Texas), middle blocker Beau Vanderlaan (Oak Park, Ill.), and libero/defensive specialist Victoria Vo (Wylie, Texas).
Â
Gabby Derrick
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 5-foot-11
Hometown: Springfield, Va.
High School: Lake Braddock Secondary School
Club Team: Metro Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-Region 6C and First Team All-District, Patriot District in 2021 … Gained Honorable Mention All-Patriot District in 2019 … Garnered the team's Coach's Award in 2017 … Played for head coach Joe Wieland … Competed on the club level for Metro Volleyball Club … National Honor Society member … An AP Scholar with Distinction and A Honor Roll student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because the open curriculum allows me to explore a wide variety of interests along with studying high-level academics. After visiting the campus, the culture and atmosphere made me truly fall in love with Brown. Being able to play competitive volleyball in addition to the academic opportunities made Brown the perfect fit."
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Kayla Griebl
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Katy, Texas
High School: Cinco Ranch
Club Team: Houston Juniors Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-District in 2019 and 2020 … Won Team MVP accolades in 2020 … Helped team win a District 19-6A title in 2019 … Garnered a spot on the 2020 AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List and the 2019 AVCA Phenom List … Selected as a 2020 Vype Houston Preseason Outside Hitter of the Year nominee … Made the 2020 GHVCA Preseason Team 6A … Played for head coach Danielle Wells … Competed on the club level for Houston Juniors Volleyball Club and head coach Kara Pratt … Gained All-Academic and Academic All-State laurels … An AP Scholar and High Honor Roll student.
Why Brown? "It was always my goal to attend a high academic college, so Brown obviously fit into that requirement. Brown's open curriculum also allows me the flexibility and freedom to explore courses outside my major. In talking with current student-athletes, coaching staff and even a chemistry professor, I got a great sense of the Brown culture and felt it was a great fit for me! I was also impressed that the volleyball coach emphasized that even though I will be an athlete, I am a student first and my studies are the highest priority. I am excited to play volleyball for Brown at the Division I level and move the team up the rankings in the conference!"
Â
Beau Vanderlaan
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6-foot-1
Hometown: Oak Park, Ill.
High School: Fenwick
Club Team: 1st Alliance
Prep Accolades: Earned GCAC Player of the Year honors in 2019-20 … Gained GCAC All-Conference accolades in 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 … Garnered Pioneer Press First Team All-Area in 2019 … Tallied 143 kills (2.34 per set) and 125 blocks (2.05 per set) in 2019-20 … Played for head coach Kathleen O'Laughlin … Competed on the club level for 1st Alliance; Selected for the Prep Volleyball Class of 2021 Watchlist … College Board African American National Recognition and high honor roll student … Gained AAU Academic All-America honors.
Why Brown? "When I visited Brown, the team atmosphere was unlike anywhere else. Everyone was so genuine towards each other and wanted to help one another succeed. Not to mention, Coach Kim's emphasis on technique is exactly the coaching style I need to take my game to the next level."
Â
Victoria Vo
Position: Libero/Defensive Specialist
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Wylie, Texas
High School: Wylie
Club Team: Dallas Premier Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-League in 2020 … Gained team's Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2020 … Helped lead team to a district title in 2020 … Garnered Honorable Mention All-League in 2017 … Played for coaches Geoff Kiessling, Alex Nolan, Anthony Nguyen, and Tien Phan … Competed on the club level for Dallas Premier Volleyball Club; captained team for four years and placed third at nationals in 2017 … Won club's Team MVP and Most Improved awards … Earned Academic All-District laurels three times … National Honor Society and Honor Roll student.
Why Brown? "Brown's open curriculum allows me to fulfill my educational needs at one of the most prestigious universities. Its flexibility gives me the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love on a collegiate level."
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