LOS ANGELES – UCLA women’s volleyball head coach Alfee Reft has signed former Northwestern middle blocker Desiree Becker to his 2023 roster. Becker will compete as a graduate this fall with one year of eligibility remaining.
“I am extremely excited to welcome Des to our Bruin program,” Reft said. “From our initial conversation on the phone back in December, it was evident Des shared a desire to pursuing her greatness and a hunger to learn how she could explore new tools to elevate herself and those around her. She will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to
UCLA in more ways than one.
“On the court, she is a quick, dynamic and disciplined blocker and attacker who has earned lots of experience competing at a high level these past four years. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our block and defense.”
In her final year at Northwestern in 2022, Becker was the leading blocker on a Wildcats squad that finished with an 18-14 record for their highest win total since 2010. Becker finished the season with a team-high 118 blocks and ranked fifth with 177 kills over 110 sets on the season.
Over her four years in Evanston from 2019-2022, Becker averaged 2.12 points per set, 1.54 kills per set at .297 hitting percentage and 0.90 blocks per set. The DeWitt, Mich. product has recorded at least five blocks in 24 of her 82 matches played. Becker also has eight double-digit kill performances.
Becker prepped at DeWitt High School in Michigan where she finished with 308 kills, 176 digs, 71 aces and 48 blocks her senior year. She helped the Panthers to the state semifinals her junior year in 2017. Becker, who played club for Legacy Volleyball, was named Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention and was listed to PrepVolleyball’s Senior Ace “The 150”.
Becker also finished ninth overall at the 2017 USAV Junior National 16 Open championships.
Becker joins fellow transfers Joy Umeh (OH/UC Irvine) and Carly Hendrickson (OH/Florida) and freshmen Kat Lutz (DS/L), Sydney Breon (DS/L), Brooklyn Briscoe (MB) and Ashley Mullen (S) in Reft’s first group of new Bruins.
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