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Duke Adds Three to 2024 Volleyball Squad
6/12/2024 5:09:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM – The Duke volleyball program and head coach Jolene Nagel announced the addition of Tiffany Paalman, Grace Penn and Ariana White to the 2024 squad as transfers.
"We are excited to confirm that we will have three graduate students join our team for the fall of 2024," Nagel said. "We have been exceptionally lucky with our graduate students over the past few years and we have also benefited from their court experience and maturity. We look to see our graduate students continue to enhance our team!"
Paalman comes to Durham after spending time at Green Bay as a middle blocker from Appleton, Wisc. Most recently as a redshirt junior, she received first team All-Horizon league accolades with 31 match appearances, totaling 121 out of 124 sets played. Paalman finished second on the team in blocks with 13 solo and 83 assists and also finished third in kills (330) and points (253.5). She notched career numbers in kills (23) and points (24.5) versus Cleveland State in November and tallied a career-high seven blocks against Wright State.
For her career, she owns 811 kills for a .294 hitting percentage out of the middle. Paalman also has 295.0 total blocks under her belt and over 1,000 career points (1,012.5).
"Tiffany has proven to be both accomplished and resilient over the course of her career including overcoming injury to earn All-Horizon League honors and amassing over 800 kills and almost 300 career blocks," Nagel said. "Most impressively, she will become Duke volleyball's first Doctoral candidate as she begins work on her Ph.D in Marine Science and Conservation this fall. Tiffany is going to be an incredible addition to our middle blocker group, and even more so, a wonderful addition to our locker room and culture. We cannot wait to have her in Durham!"
Penn arrives in Durham after spending three years as a 5-10 setter at Boston College. Originally from Manhattan Beach, Calif., Penn owns 2,149 assists, 617 digs and 73 aces in her career. Most recently in 2023, she tallied six games with 20-or-more assists as she was one of two setters in the Eagles' 6/2 rotation. She finished second on the team with 409 assists and added 144 digs to go along with 22 aces. In 2022, she saw 30 games with 20-or-more assists for 6.04 dimes per set. Her career high of 42 assists came against LIU in 2022.
"We are thrilled to have Grace join Duke volleyball after four years at Boston College," Nagel said. "Not only does she have an impressive mind for the game, she's also gotten the game experience to back it up. Grace will be a huge asset for us, not only because of her skill set, but because of her experience playing in a tough ACC and serving as a team captain. I'm certain she will impact our gym immediately and add to a setting group that continues to get better all the time."
White joins the Duke volleyball program following her four-year stint as a 6'2" middle blocker at Harvard. To date, she owns 270 kills and 282.0 total blocks, including 51 solo. A season ago with the Crimson, she finished the season hitting with a .240 hitting percentage and saw 11 games hitting .300 or better. In the win over Merrimack, she hit a career-best .667 to go along with five total blocks. Over her career, she has posted hitting percentages of .400 or better 17 times.
"Ariana brings with her a wealth of experience competing at a high level both athletically and academically," Nagel commented. "We know that the level of commitment required to excel as an Ivy League student-athlete will set her up for success here at Duke. Ariana has already proven to fit beautifully into our team, and we are so excited about what she will add to Duke volleyball."
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
"We are excited to confirm that we will have three graduate students join our team for the fall of 2024," Nagel said. "We have been exceptionally lucky with our graduate students over the past few years and we have also benefited from their court experience and maturity. We look to see our graduate students continue to enhance our team!"
Paalman comes to Durham after spending time at Green Bay as a middle blocker from Appleton, Wisc. Most recently as a redshirt junior, she received first team All-Horizon league accolades with 31 match appearances, totaling 121 out of 124 sets played. Paalman finished second on the team in blocks with 13 solo and 83 assists and also finished third in kills (330) and points (253.5). She notched career numbers in kills (23) and points (24.5) versus Cleveland State in November and tallied a career-high seven blocks against Wright State.
For her career, she owns 811 kills for a .294 hitting percentage out of the middle. Paalman also has 295.0 total blocks under her belt and over 1,000 career points (1,012.5).
"Tiffany has proven to be both accomplished and resilient over the course of her career including overcoming injury to earn All-Horizon League honors and amassing over 800 kills and almost 300 career blocks," Nagel said. "Most impressively, she will become Duke volleyball's first Doctoral candidate as she begins work on her Ph.D in Marine Science and Conservation this fall. Tiffany is going to be an incredible addition to our middle blocker group, and even more so, a wonderful addition to our locker room and culture. We cannot wait to have her in Durham!"
Penn arrives in Durham after spending three years as a 5-10 setter at Boston College. Originally from Manhattan Beach, Calif., Penn owns 2,149 assists, 617 digs and 73 aces in her career. Most recently in 2023, she tallied six games with 20-or-more assists as she was one of two setters in the Eagles' 6/2 rotation. She finished second on the team with 409 assists and added 144 digs to go along with 22 aces. In 2022, she saw 30 games with 20-or-more assists for 6.04 dimes per set. Her career high of 42 assists came against LIU in 2022.
"We are thrilled to have Grace join Duke volleyball after four years at Boston College," Nagel said. "Not only does she have an impressive mind for the game, she's also gotten the game experience to back it up. Grace will be a huge asset for us, not only because of her skill set, but because of her experience playing in a tough ACC and serving as a team captain. I'm certain she will impact our gym immediately and add to a setting group that continues to get better all the time."
White joins the Duke volleyball program following her four-year stint as a 6'2" middle blocker at Harvard. To date, she owns 270 kills and 282.0 total blocks, including 51 solo. A season ago with the Crimson, she finished the season hitting with a .240 hitting percentage and saw 11 games hitting .300 or better. In the win over Merrimack, she hit a career-best .667 to go along with five total blocks. Over her career, she has posted hitting percentages of .400 or better 17 times.
"Ariana brings with her a wealth of experience competing at a high level both athletically and academically," Nagel commented. "We know that the level of commitment required to excel as an Ivy League student-athlete will set her up for success here at Duke. Ariana has already proven to fit beautifully into our team, and we are so excited about what she will add to Duke volleyball."
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
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