MOSCOW, Idaho - With the spring slate concluded, head coach R omana Redondo Kriskova and assistant Ben Kasun have been hitting the recruiting trail hard to build a team that can accomplish two goals. First, to bring success to Idaho volleyball, and second (but no less important), to build a program centered around a high work ethic, strong character, and an investment in one another.
This spring, the Vandals took a key step in that direction with the signing of two transfers and three freshmen who will make an immediate impact on the program and the community.
Of those, both transfers and one of the underclassmen enrolled at Idaho in time for the spring semester, joining the team in time for spring workouts and a pair of scrimmages with Gonzaga and Central Washington.
CHLOE SANDERS
An early high-school graduate from Clancy, MT, Chloe Sanders joined the Vandals as a freshman in time for spring workouts. The Treasure State native stands out at 6'1" and sports a decorated high school and club career that caught the attention of the Vandal coaching staff.
A standout hitter at Helena High School and Big Sky Volleyball Academy, Sanders was named first team all-conference in 2023 and emerged as a leader among some of the most successful high school volleyball programs in the state of Montana. She established herself as a potent offensive weapon coming out of high school, sitting in the top-10 in kills per set in the state in 2023.
Sanders is excited to be a Vandal, and sees a lot of growth for herself and the program in the future.
"I would say that I was really drawn to the community at first. Everyone is very kind and supportive of all the athletics at the university. I also wanted to be a part of a program that I can grow in and help the program grow as well. We have some building to do, for sure, but I'm excited to see how we can develop together as a team."
SARAH SULLIVAN
Sarah comes to Moscow by way of Butler Community College in Kansas, where she spent two years as a standout hitter for the Grizzlies. In that span, she tallied 672 total skills, averaging as high as 3.06 per set in the 24-25 season. A go-to presence on the outside, Sarah recorded double-digit kills in 21 of 33 matches played last season, including a personal best 21 kills vs. then #19 Missouri State - West Plains in September.
Before her time at Butler, Sullivan was a star player on a loaded squad out of Coronado High School in Henderson, NV. She finished her varsity career with 353 kills and, as a senior, led her team to a 29-5 record and a perfect 8-0 in league play.
"My experience as a Vandal so far has been great!" said Sullivan. "We have an amazing group of girls who want to work and make this program great one step at a time! Go Vandals!"
KAILEE WAKATAKE
A rising junior libero and defensive specialist, Kailee Wakatake transfers in to Idaho after one season at UC San Diego and two at Taft College. She made a name for herself as a defensive force while at Taft, earning back-to-back first team all-conference honors and the Libero of the Year nod in 2022 and 2023, bolstered by a combined 1,136 digs in those two years.
Wakatake originally hails from Honolulu, HI, where she was a three time All-OIA Honorable Mention and led her team to a runner-up finish in the OIA D2 Finals in 2019.
Kailee had important goals that truly swayed her decision to become a Vandal, and gave props to the coaching staff for emphasizing the importance of her and her mission to the program.
"Throughout my recruiting process and time in the transfer portal, my main goal was to find a program that I'd be gratified spending my last years playing collegiate volleyball at, as well as a program that I would be proud saying I am an alumni of. Coach Ro (Romana Redondo Kriskova) did a tremendous job throughout my recruiting process reiterating her commitment to building a program around similar goals, values, and morals that I too believe in. Although I've only been a Vandal for a few months now, I can confidently say I've finally found what I was looking for, both athletically and academically."
Coach Redondo Kriskova echoed the sentiment of her newcomers, alluding to a mutual optimism that Vandal Volleyball is building the foundation of a program that can have lasting success at it's peak.
"Kailee, Sarah, and Chloe are the type of people that we are looking for for this program. Hard workers, energetic, and gritty. I'm excited to see what they will accomplish in a Vandal uniform over the next couple of years!"
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Vandal Volleyball, follow the team on Instagram (vandalvolleyball), X (IdahoVolleyball), and visit govandals.com.