(L-R) Arissa Carbonara, Annemarie O’Gara and Francesca Popescu
Arissa Carbonara, Annemarie O’Gara, Francesca Popescu To Join Cal Volleyball Team
BERKELEY – California volleyball announced the addition of three incoming freshmen to its 2025 squad Wednesday, with Arissa Carbonara, Annemarie O’Gara and Francesca Popescu officially signing with the Golden Bears.
Carbonara, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Cuero, Texas, who owns the Cuero High School records for both single-season and career kills, has posted 731 kills this season -16th-most in the nation – and is a member of the 2024 Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) All-Star Team. In 2023, she was named All-State by the Texas Sportswriters Association (TWSA), the District 28-4A Offensive MVP and the Victoria Advocate Area Offensive Player of the Year. Carbonara’s athletic achievements also include four letters in basketball (and a TCGA 4A All-State nod in 2024); she is also a jumper on the Cuero High School track & field team and played varsity softball as a freshman.
“Arissa will be a great addition to our pins group with the ability to play six rotations and bringing pace with her swing,” head coach Jen Malcom said. “Not only is she a fantastic volleyball player, she also dominates on the basketball court – we love multisport athletes who compete. Her work ethic is a product of her upbringing, and we are excited to bring a small-town, farm-kid mentality to our team.”
As a student at Cuero High School, Carbonara ranks second in her graduating class and is a National Honor Society member as well as the Student Council treasurer and the former president of the Anchor Club. She intends to major in business at Cal.
O’Gara, a 6-foot-2 opposite from Phoenix and top-12 blocker in the state of Arizona, plays for Xavier College Preparatory and is a member of the All-Region Premier 6A Second Team. In 2023, she helped club team Arizona Sky take third place at the national championships; the next year, O’Gara and Arizona Sky reached the top as the club won both the state and national titles.
“I love Annie’s eagerness to continue learning the game and applying it every day,” Malcom said. “We know how hard she has worked to be a Golden Bear – this is just the beginning for her and we look forward to seeing how her…
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