University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA WVB Announces Signing Class
November 17, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
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UCLA head women's volleyball coach Michael Sealy has announced this year's signing class, which features 6-foot-3 middle blocker Madeleine Gates (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla HS/Coast Volleyball), 5-11 setter Kylie Miller (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga HS/Forza1), 5-10 libero/outside hitter Savvy Simo (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines HS/Wave Volleyball) and 6-foot-3 opposite Torrey Van Winden (Napa, Calif./Vintage HS/Five Starz).
Gates is a two-sport athlete at La Jolla High School in San Diego, playing middle blocker on the women's volleyball team under coach Drew Burdette for four seasons and center on the women's basketball squad for two years. A PrepVolleyball Senior Ace #26, Gates was named an Under Armour Second Team All-America and averaged over three kills and one block per set with a hitting percentage over .500. Gates and the Vikings reached the semifinals of the CIF San Diego Section Open Division Championship this season.
“Madeleine has improved over the past year more than any other player in the country,” Sealy said. “She went from 'tons of potential' to dominant in a very short window. She is great off of one foot and two, and has great blocking instincts. Madeleine is very physical and will help get us on par with the most physical teams in the country.”
As a junior, Gates and LJHS were Western League runners-up, as she was named First Team All-League and Second Team All-CIFSDS, as well as San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic. Gates plays club with Coast Volleyball under coaches Luis Cuatok, Davis Ransom and JJ Van Niel. Earlier this year, her 17-Open team was first at the Pacific Northwest Qualifier, third at the SoCal Qualifier and 14th at the Junior Olympics, getting named to the PrepVolleyball Dream Team for the Pacific Northwest and So Cal Qualifiers.
“I liked the combination of great academics and athletics,” Gates said on her decision to attend UCLA. “I also like the coaches and the location.”
Miller is in her fourth year of varsity volleyball at Rancho Cucamonga High School under coach Aaron Flores and is the school single-season and career leader in kills, assists and aces. She was named an Under Armour First Team All-America and has been invited to play in the Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match and Skills Competition set for Dec. 18 in Omaha, Neb. She was also a PrepVolleyball Senior Ace #11 and the top-rated setter, as well as a California Gatorade Player of the Year candidate. Miller, whose Cougars reached the CIF Southern Section Division 1A semifinals, averaged over 3.5 kills and 2.7 digs per set with a .436 hitting percentage and 50 aces this season.
“Kylie is a very athletic and experienced setter,” Sealy said. “She is someone who can make plays with her physical abilities, as well as her understanding of the game. We have been excited about her commitment to UCLA for a couple of years now and can't wait to get her on campus. Kylie has a bright future at UCLA and beyond.”
Miller, who averaged 3.3 kills, 2.6 digs and 71 aces as a junior, was named an All-American by MaxPreps and PrepVolleyball in 2014. She also earned First Team All-CIF accolades and was the Baseline League Most Valuable Player. Miller plays club with Forza1 under coaches Morgan Coberly and Flores. She has won four medals at JO's, including three straight golds (2010-2012) and a bronze in 2014. Miller was named to the All-Tournament Team at 2014 17's and also won two golds on the beach.
“UCLA was the best fit for me for academics and volleyball,” Miller, who named her cat after Bruin All-American setter Nellie Spicer, said. “I love the UCLA coaching staff and their style of game plays to my strengths. I want to be part of winning another national championship for the Bruins.”
Simo has played three seasons of outside hitter at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego under coach Brennan Dean. This season, she is averaging over four kills and nearly two digs per set to go with 28 aces. Simo has helped the Falcons to three straight Palomar League titles and back-to-back CIF championships. TPHS won this season's CIF San Diego Section Open Division title and reached the State quarterfinals.
“Savvy is a very dynamic volleyball player,” Sealy said. “She has been a six-rotation outside hitter her entire career. We want to take that athleticism and use it in the libero position. We know that she can be a dominant defender and leader in that role.”
Simo was named First Team All-CIF and Palomar League Player of the Year as a junior, and is also a three-time member of the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team. In 2014, she posted over three kills and two digs per set. Simo plays club with Wave Volleyball under coaches Rachel Morris, Brent Hilliard, Steve Timmons, Jud Buechler and Dean. Her U-16 squad won the Atlanta Big South Qualifier and also finished third at the L.A. Qualifier and ninth at JO's. Simo has a lot of success on the beach, winning the U-19 USA High Performance Championships this year. She also placed first in four additional CBVA tournaments and was on the USA Beach Volleyball A1 Team for U-17 and U-19.
Simo will continue in the tradition of the Torrey Pines to UCLA pipeline, as she will be teammates with Falcon alums Jennie Frager, Reily Buechler and Ryann Chandler. “UCLA has always been my dream school ever since I was little,” Simo said. “Not only do I love the school, but they have a great volleyball coaching staff, the players are incredibly nice and I am able to play both indoor and beach for all four years.”
Van Winden played on the Vintage High School volleyball team for three seasons (2012-2014) under coach Kelly Porter, having also played on the VHS soccer team in 2015. She helped the Crushers to three Monticello Empire League titles and was named All-League every season and 2014 league Offensive Player of the Year. Van Winden will be graduating from Vintage in December and will enroll at UCLA for the 2016 spring quarter.
“Torrey has developed into a premier opposite in the country,” Sealy said. “She was one of the most impressive pin hitters last summer at the Junior Olympics while playing up an age division. Torrey hits with power and range, and with her beach volleyball background, has developed a very good understanding of the indoor game and its nuances. She will be an impact player right away.”
Van Winden plays club with Five Starz VB under coaches Debby Colberg and Mike Martinez. She has been named to the JO's All-Tournament Team three times (15, 16, 17), earning bronzes with the 16- and 17-Open squads and silver with the 15's. On the beach, Van Winden is a two-time Santa Barbara Open champion and also won the CBVA State title in 2015.
“UCLA has been my dream school since I can remember,” Van Winden said about coming to Westwood. “The coaches, campus and academics were impossible to turn down.” Van Winden is a first cousin to Micah Ma'a, who will be a freshman on the 2016 UCLA men's volleyball team.
