LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball program has signed five student-athletes – Keyana Cruse, Dakota Quinlan, Olivia "Livvy" Setla, VaiLin "Gabi" Tagaloa and Chloe Thomas – who will enroll at the University beginning in the fall of 2021, head coach Dawn Sullivan announced Friday.
 
This fall's class is made up of one local product (Tagaloa), one Californian (Quinlan) and three more that come to the Silver State from Kansas (Cruse), Michigan (Setla) and Texas (Thomas).
 
"I am excited to announce this 2021 class," said Sullivan. "They are athletes with incredible character that will continue to raise the standard of excellence in our gym. They are each relentless, intentional, positive and passionate learners. I am eager to see them compete for UNLV."



Cruse is a 6-1 outside hitter who attends Bonner Springs High School (Bonner Springs, Kansas). She has lettered four times in volleyball, two in swimming and once apiece in basketball and soccer. She led the Braves to a total of 75 wins in four years on the court, including 43 combined victories off back-to-back 20-win seasons: 23-15 in 2019 and 20-9 in 2020. She was selected to the All-Frontier League First Team in both 2018 and 2019, and was recognized this season as a MaxPreps/AVCA Kansas Player of the Week (Sept. 13). During the 2020 campaign, she had 423 kills (5.2 kps) off a .371 hitting efficiency, 267 digs (3.3 dps), 41 blocks (11 solo) and 25 aces. As a junior, she had 370 kills, 277 digs, 35 total blocks and 25 aces. In the pool, she helped rewrite two of Bonner Springs' relay swimming records during her sophomore season. Has recently played club volleyball for Dynasty (Shawnee, Kansas) and KC Power (Olathe, Kansas) and beach volleyball for P4:13 (Harrisonville, Missouri). Academically, she is a member of the National Honors Society and has earned the academic letter and scholar-athlete award all four years.



Quinlan is a 5-10 middle blocker who attends Valley Christian High School (Cerritos, California) after beginning her prep career at Bishop Montgomery High School (Torrance, California). She has lettered three times in volleyball, twice at BMHS and once at VCHS. Over the past three seasons, she's helped her teams to a total of 60 victories, with 23- and 25-wins in 2018 and 2019, respectively. As a junior, she guided the Defenders to the first round of the SoCal Division II - 2019 CIF State Championships after the team won the CIF Southern Section Division 4 title and had a second-place showing in the Olympic League. In 2019, she amassed 195 kills and a 5.0 kills-per-set average off a .416 hitting efficiency, 76 total blocks (six solo) and 64 digs, which helped her earn CIF Southern Section Division 4 and Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year honors. Additionally, she was named to the All-Olympic League First Team in 2018 and 2019, and was selected its MVP in 2019. She was also a 2018 CIF-SS First Team selection. In 2018, she recorded 216 kills off .339 hitting, 91 blocks, 27 digs and 10 aces. She currently plays club volleyball for Mizuno Long Beach following a two-year stint with Club Southbay. In the classroom, she has been tabbed to the Principal Honor Roll for three years (2017-19).


 
Setla is a 5-5 libero/defensive specialist who attends Northville High School (Northville, Michigan). She has lettered twice in volleyball for the Mustangs. Over the past two seasons, the squad has combined for a 46-19-1 overall mark, with a 2019 Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) Tournament title. In 2020, she had 322 digs and a 11.1 digs-per-match average from the back row, while helping offensively with 27 aces and three kills. She has played club volleyball for Legacy (Novi, Michigan) dating back to 2016, and helped the team to a third-place open division finish at the 2018 AAU Nationals. She has earned the KLAA Scholar-Athlete Award and also the academic excellence award for having a 3.5 or higher GPA.


 
Tagaloa is a setter and right side hitter who attends Shadow Ridge High School (North Las Vegas) after she spent her freshman and sophomore years at New Albany High School (New Albany, Ohio). She has lettered a total of three times in volleyball, playing two years for NAHS Eagles and one for SRHS. As a junior in 2019 (SRHS), she had 260 assists, 223 digs, 178 kills and 71 aces, which helped her earn a spot on the Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada Second Team as well as being named to the all-region and all-conference first teams. In two years at NAHS (2017 and 2018), she guided the team to a two-year 25-21 record and a pair of top-three finishes in conference play. On the court, she tallied 165 kills off a .307 hitting efficiency, 298 assists, 109 total blocks (50 solo) and 97 aces. She earned Ohio Capital All-Conference Team honors each year, and was an all-district second team selection and team MVP in 2018. She has played for the Vegas United Volleyball Club since 2019 after a two-year run with the Greater Columbus Volleyball Club (2017-2018).


 
Thomas is a 6-1 middle blocker who attends Allen High School (Allen, Texas). She has lettered three times in volleyball. During the 2020 campaign, she has contributed 38 kills off .332 hitting, 14 digs, 13 total blocks (four solo) and four aces for the Eagles, who sit 9-8 overall. As a junior, she hit .365 and led the team in both kills (223) and blocks (138), and also posted 46 digs and 27 aces, which helped her to a spot on the Texas Girls Coaches Association's All-State Class 6A Team. She was tabbed the District 9-6A Blocker of the Year, too, while being named AHS's Most Outstanding Offensive Player. She has played club for Madfrog Volleyball (Plano, Texas) since 2016. She has earned honor roll status and been a member of National Junior Honor Society.