Kalani Ruri Season 2021

2021 FALL SEASON (As A Freshman): Saw action in 11 sets over seven matches during her rookie campaign on The Mesa … Hit .294 for the season with 16 kills, four digs and five block assists … Helped the Aztecs sweep past Texas Southern at the Arizona Wildcat Invitational after launching five kills in nine attempts without an error (.556) while posting a pair of block assists (9-17-21) … Played all three sets in SDSU’s whitewash of UC Riverside at the same tournament the following day, blasting a season-high seven kills on 13 swings against two errors (.385) to go with two additional block assists (9-18-21) … Also scooped up a season-high two digs in that victory over the Highlanders … Knocked down two kills at Utah State (10-16-21).

PRIOR TO COLLEGE: A heavily decorated player who has starred for numerous prep and national teams at the junior and senior levels in her native New Zealand … Displayed her versatility with five years of experience as a setter, opposite and right-side hitter … Collected most valuable player honors and earned a spot on the all-tournament team after leading her squad to a gold medal at the New Zealand U19 Inter Provincial Championships in June 2021 … Was named best setter at the 2019 U17 New Zealand Inter Provincial Championships, where she helped her team to a silver medal … Also won a bronze medal with her squad that same year at the New Zealand Senior High School Championships, garnering all-tournament accolades in the process … Enjoyed a banner year in 2018, winning several awards, capped by best opposite and all-tournament honors at the New Zealand U15 Inter Provincial Championships … Merited best setter and all-tournament distinction as well at the U17 Inter Provincial Championships … Led her team to silver medals at both events … Also captured a gold medal at the New Zealand Women’s Club Championships …  Was additionally selected as captain of the New Zealand Maori U19 squad and secured a spot on the New Zealand national U17  team … Helped her U17s to a sixth-place finish at the 2018 South East Asian Championships along with a 10th-place standing at the Asian Championships that same year … Won three gold medals in 2017, including the New Zealand Senior High School Championships and New Zealand U15 Inter Provincial Championships, as well as the New Zealand Junior High School Championships, where she received all-tournament recognition … Also took home a silver medal that year at the U20 Inter Provincial Championships …  Has represented both Tarawera and Trident High Schools for additional volleyball tournaments in her home country, including the New Zealand Secondary School Championships, North Island Junior Championships and Sports Bay of Plenty Championships.

PERSONAL: Kalani Ruri was born in Whakatane, New Zealand … Parents are Mandi and Mahjon Ruri … Her mother was a Waka Ama outrigger champion …  Enjoys the outdoors, shopping, listening to music and spending time with family and friends … Lists Kobe Bryant and New Zealand All Blacks rugby union player Beauden Barrett as her favorite athletes … Also competed in netball and swimming … Intends to major in kinesiology at San Diego State with career plans to enter the field of physiotherapy.