Phekran Kong, Zayna Meyer, Maggie Li
Women's Volleyball Signs Three Transfers
January 22, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA women's volleyball program announced the addition of three transfers - Phekran Kong, Zayna Meyer, and Maggie Li. Kong brings her experience from three seasons at Louisville, Meyer joins as a graduate transfer from Long Beach State, and Li arrives in Westwood following two impressive seasons at California.
Below are capsules on each signee, including a report from Head Coach Alfee Reft.
MB Phekran Kong (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Louisville)
In 2024โฆCompeted in the NCAA Final Four for the third consecutive season, and the National Championship match for the second time in the last three years (2022 and 2024)โฆPlayed in 27 matches and made 23 startsโฆRacked up 97 total blocks, including 18 solo blocksโฆAveraged 1.08 blocks-per-setโฆRegistered 169.5 total points, 111 kills, and 1.25 kills-per-setโฆ Achieved at least one kill in every match she playedโฆ.Posted a season-high eight blocks (two solo) against North Carolina (Nov. 17)โฆPut back seven total blocks in the NCAA Regional Final win over Stanford (Dec. 14)โฆKnocked down four kills on seven swings (.778) with four total blocks in the NCAA National Semifinal victory over No. 1 Pitt (Dec. 19).
In 2023โฆWas named to the AVCA All-East Region team and was named to the All-Pitt Region last year. She appeared in 111 sets with 203 kills, hitting 319โฆShe led the team in blocking with 117 blocks on the year, averaging 1.05 per setโฆShe had 12 matches where she hit better than .400. She hit .600 at Pitt in the regional final with 13 kills one error on 20 swingsโฆHad a block in every match she played in with a season-high nine versus Wright state in the NCAA First Round and tallied eight at Pitt in the NCAA Regional Final when she had eight assistsโฆRecorded a season-best 13 kills at Georgia Tech (13-3-26 to hit .385)โฆWas invited to the USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program that trained in Colorado Springs in February of 2024.
In 2022โฆPlayed 82 sets and recorded 103 kills hitting .303 and 106 blocks to earn 165.0 points for the CardinalsโฆEarned a career-high nine kills against Virginia and the season-high for the Cards with 11 blocks against Pittsburgh in the NCAA TournamentโฆAchieved a .500 or better hitting percentage four different times: (.857 vs. Boston College 6-0-7), (.571 vs. Virginia 9-1-14), (.500 vs. Notre Dame 1-0-2), (.625 vs. Samford 5-0-8)โฆHelped the Cards to the National Championship, playing in every set in the Tournament run.
Reft says: "PK brings experience to the table. She has a track record of winning on the biggest stages, bringing four years of high-level collegiate volleyball experience, including three Final Fours and two National Championship appearances. Her explosive speed and versatility as an attacker off one foot make her a dynamic offensive weapon. But PK is so much more than her statsโher fierce competitive spirit, leadership, and magnetic personality will energize our team on and off the court."
S Zayna Meyer (Wheaton, Ill. / BYU / Long Beach State)
Named 2023 Big West Setter of the Yearโฆ Earned All-Region honors as well as a First Team All-Big West selection after starting all 31 matches, averaging 10 assists per set and guiding Long Beach State to a .244 hitting percentage on the year, the highest clip in the Big Westโฆ Meyer's 10.23 assists per set in Big West action were also best in the Big Westโฆ A four-time winner of Big West Setter of the Weekโฆ Received Second Team All-Big West Honors following the 2024 seasonโฆ Meyer became the sixth player in Long Beach State history to reach the 3,000-career assist milestoneโฆ2022 Second Team All-Big WestโฆNamed to the Big West All-Freshman Team in 2022.
Reft says: "Zayna will add depth and experience to our setting position this season and we are thrilled she decided to be a Bruin. She led her Long Beach State team to some marquee wins in her time there, orchestrating a dynamic and creative offense. Zayna's high-level volleyball IQ, unmatched versatility, dynamic athleticism, and contagious energy will add to a deep and experienced team this fall. Our staff looks forward to the skillset she will bring to our group this year."
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OH Xuemeng (Maggie) Li (Beijing, China / California)
Career HighlightsโฆVolleyballMag All-America Honorable Mention - first freshman in Cal history to be recognized by VolleyballMag...AVCA Pacific West Region Freshman of the Year โ first in the program's history...AVCA Pacific West Region Honorable Mention โ first in the program's history and the only freshman that year to win All-Region honors of any kind...Pac-12 Freshman of the Year... Only freshman to make the All-Pac-12 Team...Was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week six times, tied for the second-most in conference history and for the most Pac-12 weekly awards in program history.
In 2024โฆACC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2)...Started all 32 matches and played in 114 sets...Had the most total kills (463 โ second-most in ACC) and kills per set (4.06 โ third-most in ACC) by a Cal player since 2011...Also ranked third in the ACC in points (512.0) and points per set (4.49)...Averaged 4.01 kills per set and 4.39 points per set in ACC play, respectively ranking third and fourth in the conference that season...Led the team in kills in 28 matches...Posted 20 or more kills seven times, including four of the last five matches...Started and ended the season with 10-straight double-digit kill outings apiece...Tied for second on the team with seven double-doubles...Posted four service aces in the season finale against Notre Dame (Nov. 30)...Hit .381 with 27 kills and recorded 13 digs at Duke (Nov. 24)...Totaled 20 kills (.395) at North Carolina (Nov. 22)...Notched 24 kills and 18 digs against Virginia (Nov. 15)...Totaled 28 kills (.328) at Saint Mary's (Sept. 10) for the most by a Cal player all season; also posted 10 digs...Hit .372 with 23 kills at Utah State (Sept. 6)...Cal's Gatorade Student Athlete of the Month (August 2024)...CSC Academic All-District
In 2023โฆStarted all 31 matches for the Bears and played in 113 sets...Ended the year with 441 kills, third-most in the conference and fourth-most among all Division I freshmen (41st all D-I)...Averaged 3.90 kills per set, fourth-most in the Pac-12 and fourth-most among all Division I freshmen (52nd all D-I)...Posted 491.5 points and 4.35 points per set, both fourth-most in the Pac-12 and the former ranking fourth among all Division I freshmen.
Reft says: "Maggie is a unique volleyball talent who has proven that she can perform and find success in the top conferences in the country, named the Pac-12 Freshman of the year in her inaugural season of collegiate volleyball and making an incredible impact in the ACC last season for Cal. She is a well-rounded volleyball athlete that will impact the team in her first touch and her ability to terminate the ball for points.ย Her experience will round out our deep line of Outside Hitters and elevate the competition level in our gym daily."
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Below are capsules on each signee, including a report from Head Coach Alfee Reft.
MB Phekran Kong (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Louisville)
In 2024โฆCompeted in the NCAA Final Four for the third consecutive season, and the National Championship match for the second time in the last three years (2022 and 2024)โฆPlayed in 27 matches and made 23 startsโฆRacked up 97 total blocks, including 18 solo blocksโฆAveraged 1.08 blocks-per-setโฆRegistered 169.5 total points, 111 kills, and 1.25 kills-per-setโฆ Achieved at least one kill in every match she playedโฆ.Posted a season-high eight blocks (two solo) against North Carolina (Nov. 17)โฆPut back seven total blocks in the NCAA Regional Final win over Stanford (Dec. 14)โฆKnocked down four kills on seven swings (.778) with four total blocks in the NCAA National Semifinal victory over No. 1 Pitt (Dec. 19).
In 2023โฆWas named to the AVCA All-East Region team and was named to the All-Pitt Region last year. She appeared in 111 sets with 203 kills, hitting 319โฆShe led the team in blocking with 117 blocks on the year, averaging 1.05 per setโฆShe had 12 matches where she hit better than .400. She hit .600 at Pitt in the regional final with 13 kills one error on 20 swingsโฆHad a block in every match she played in with a season-high nine versus Wright state in the NCAA First Round and tallied eight at Pitt in the NCAA Regional Final when she had eight assistsโฆRecorded a season-best 13 kills at Georgia Tech (13-3-26 to hit .385)โฆWas invited to the USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program that trained in Colorado Springs in February of 2024.
In 2022โฆPlayed 82 sets and recorded 103 kills hitting .303 and 106 blocks to earn 165.0 points for the CardinalsโฆEarned a career-high nine kills against Virginia and the season-high for the Cards with 11 blocks against Pittsburgh in the NCAA TournamentโฆAchieved a .500 or better hitting percentage four different times: (.857 vs. Boston College 6-0-7), (.571 vs. Virginia 9-1-14), (.500 vs. Notre Dame 1-0-2), (.625 vs. Samford 5-0-8)โฆHelped the Cards to the National Championship, playing in every set in the Tournament run.
Reft says: "PK brings experience to the table. She has a track record of winning on the biggest stages, bringing four years of high-level collegiate volleyball experience, including three Final Fours and two National Championship appearances. Her explosive speed and versatility as an attacker off one foot make her a dynamic offensive weapon. But PK is so much more than her statsโher fierce competitive spirit, leadership, and magnetic personality will energize our team on and off the court."
S Zayna Meyer (Wheaton, Ill. / BYU / Long Beach State)
Named 2023 Big West Setter of the Yearโฆ Earned All-Region honors as well as a First Team All-Big West selection after starting all 31 matches, averaging 10 assists per set and guiding Long Beach State to a .244 hitting percentage on the year, the highest clip in the Big Westโฆ Meyer's 10.23 assists per set in Big West action were also best in the Big Westโฆ A four-time winner of Big West Setter of the Weekโฆ Received Second Team All-Big West Honors following the 2024 seasonโฆ Meyer became the sixth player in Long Beach State history to reach the 3,000-career assist milestoneโฆ2022 Second Team All-Big WestโฆNamed to the Big West All-Freshman Team in 2022.
Reft says: "Zayna will add depth and experience to our setting position this season and we are thrilled she decided to be a Bruin. She led her Long Beach State team to some marquee wins in her time there, orchestrating a dynamic and creative offense. Zayna's high-level volleyball IQ, unmatched versatility, dynamic athleticism, and contagious energy will add to a deep and experienced team this fall. Our staff looks forward to the skillset she will bring to our group this year."
ย
OH Xuemeng (Maggie) Li (Beijing, China / California)
Career HighlightsโฆVolleyballMag All-America Honorable Mention - first freshman in Cal history to be recognized by VolleyballMag...AVCA Pacific West Region Freshman of the Year โ first in the program's history...AVCA Pacific West Region Honorable Mention โ first in the program's history and the only freshman that year to win All-Region honors of any kind...Pac-12 Freshman of the Year... Only freshman to make the All-Pac-12 Team...Was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week six times, tied for the second-most in conference history and for the most Pac-12 weekly awards in program history.
In 2024โฆACC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2)...Started all 32 matches and played in 114 sets...Had the most total kills (463 โ second-most in ACC) and kills per set (4.06 โ third-most in ACC) by a Cal player since 2011...Also ranked third in the ACC in points (512.0) and points per set (4.49)...Averaged 4.01 kills per set and 4.39 points per set in ACC play, respectively ranking third and fourth in the conference that season...Led the team in kills in 28 matches...Posted 20 or more kills seven times, including four of the last five matches...Started and ended the season with 10-straight double-digit kill outings apiece...Tied for second on the team with seven double-doubles...Posted four service aces in the season finale against Notre Dame (Nov. 30)...Hit .381 with 27 kills and recorded 13 digs at Duke (Nov. 24)...Totaled 20 kills (.395) at North Carolina (Nov. 22)...Notched 24 kills and 18 digs against Virginia (Nov. 15)...Totaled 28 kills (.328) at Saint Mary's (Sept. 10) for the most by a Cal player all season; also posted 10 digs...Hit .372 with 23 kills at Utah State (Sept. 6)...Cal's Gatorade Student Athlete of the Month (August 2024)...CSC Academic All-District
In 2023โฆStarted all 31 matches for the Bears and played in 113 sets...Ended the year with 441 kills, third-most in the conference and fourth-most among all Division I freshmen (41st all D-I)...Averaged 3.90 kills per set, fourth-most in the Pac-12 and fourth-most among all Division I freshmen (52nd all D-I)...Posted 491.5 points and 4.35 points per set, both fourth-most in the Pac-12 and the former ranking fourth among all Division I freshmen.
Reft says: "Maggie is a unique volleyball talent who has proven that she can perform and find success in the top conferences in the country, named the Pac-12 Freshman of the year in her inaugural season of collegiate volleyball and making an incredible impact in the ACC last season for Cal. She is a well-rounded volleyball athlete that will impact the team in her first touch and her ability to terminate the ball for points.ย Her experience will round out our deep line of Outside Hitters and elevate the competition level in our gym daily."
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Players Mentioned
MB
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