SAN DIEGO – San Diego State volleyball head coach Brent Hilliard has announced the addition of three talented newcomers during the recent early signing period.
The three players signed to National Letters of Intent include high school star Mikela Labno (Hilmar, Calif.), who will be eligible to compete for the Aztecs in the fall of 2021, along with international standouts Kalani Ruri (Kawerau, New Zealand) and Sara Mukaj (Modena, Italy).
"We are extremely excited to welcome this class of future Aztecs," Hilliard said. "They fit many of our program's needs moving forward and we hope to have them contribute immediately upon their arrival to campus. They are all extremely dynamic athletes that will help our team grow and play at a very high level."
A 6-2 outside hitter, Labno is a three-time all-conference honoree who led Hilmar High School to three consecutive Trans Valley League championships and a pair of CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV titles.
Not to be outdone, Labno garnered Player of the Year accolades from the Turlock Journal as a sophomore in 2018 after propelling the Yellowjackets to a runner-up finish at the state tournament. She led the team with 521 kills that season while ranking third with 75 blocks and 50 aces.
In three full prep seasons, Labno owns a .307 hitting percentage, averaging 3.4 kills and 1.6 digs per set to go with 150 blocks and 71 aces, according MaxPreps.
A versatile athlete, Labno also competes as a post player on the Hilmar High girls basketball team and is a member of the track and field squad, capturing the conference high jump title as a freshman in 2018 before finishing 16th at the state meet. For her effort, she was named the Modesto Bee's All-District Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
"Mikela is a tremendous competitor who brings a massive block and an ability to hit from anywhere on the court, front or back row," Hilliard said. "I can see her absorbing a large volume of swings for our team. As she continues to refine all her skills, her role will be to play all six rotations. There is no doubt in my mind that she will help us win many high leverage points and matches throughout her career."
Recruited as a right side hitter and setter, the 6-2 Ruri has excelled for numerous prep and national teams in her native country, winning gold medals at the 2017 New Zealand Senior High School Volleyball Championships and the 2018 New Zealand Women's Volleyball Club Championships. In addition, she was named the best setter at the 2018 New Zealand U17 championships after meriting earlier distinction as the best right side hitter in the U15 tournament.
On the international stage, Ruri helped her squad to a sixth-place finish at the 2018 South East Asian U17 Championships to go with a 10th-place standing at the Asian U17 Championships that same year.
In addition, Ruri has represented both Tarawera and Trident High Schools at the junior and senior levels for various volleyball tournaments in her home country, including the New Zealand Secondary School Championships, North Island Junior Championships, Sports Bay of Plenty Championships and Senior National Volleyball Championships.
"Kalani Ruri is a natural athlete who brings the versatility and physicality that every team needs," Hilliard said. "Kalani can play three positions due to her refined skill sets. She is smooth and effortless in everything she does on the court and will be a tremendous addition to this class. The fun part for our coaching staff will be to see where she helps our team most upon her arrival to The Mesa."
A 6-3 middle blocker, Mukaj has competed for the Italian club teams Igor Volley Trecate Novara II and Exacer Montale for the past two years, leading the latter to a second-place standing in the Italian Serie B1 Group C tournament in 2019.
A product of the Anderlini Volleyball School, Mukaj helped her club team to the 2016-17 Serie C championship and a third-place finish at the Italian national U16 championships. In addition, she was named MVP and voted best middle in the U16 regional finals that year.
"Sara has played on several elite club teams for a while now," Hilliard said. "When evaluating Sara, the first thing that stood out was how competitive she was. Her on court persona will help our team immediately. Add to that her ability to be a shutdown blocker and a consistent attacker in the middle, and the future looks extremely bright for both Sara and the Aztecs."
San Diego State finished the 2019 fall season with a 15-14 overall record, which marked the program's sixth winning season in the last nine years. The Aztecs open their 2021 spring schedule in February.