GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota volleyball head coach Jesse Tupac has announced the addition of six signees for the 2025-26 season. All six signees join the program from the prep ranks and hail from four states and the province of Saskatchewan.
The Fighting Hawks added two players from the state of Texas in Kelly Kelsick (Pearland | Shadow Creek HS) and Kimanni Rugley (Pearland | Pearland HS), one from Nebraska in Matthea Dalton (Fremont | Fremont HS), one from Utah in Sadie White (Herriman | Mountain Ridge HS) and one from California in Ava Galvan (Agoura Hills | Agoura Hills HS). UND also added Sara Gray from just north of the border in Saskatchewan (Saskatoon | Holy Cross HS). Overall, the class includes two outside hitters, a pair of middle blockers, one setter and a libero.
Head Coach Jesse Tupac on the 2025 class:
"I couldn't be more excited to finally announce the UND Volleyball Class of 2025. Our recruiting coordinator Kristen Tupac did an incredible job bringing together one of the best classes that UND has ever seen in our sport. These athletes will make an immediate and lasting impact in Grand Forks, and our fans should be very excited to watch them compete over the coming years. This class brings together some of the best athletes in their positions from across North America. Together they share an intense passion for competition, a hunger for greatness, and the ability to elevate those around them. Further, they have all competed at an incredibly high level, with numerous successes and accolades during their prep careers. We are ecstatic to welcome these six athletes to North Dakota. Fighting Hawks fans should prepare themselves to watch some truly elite volleyball played by incredible athletes and people. Let's Go Hawks!
Meet the Signees
Names are listed in alphabetical order:
Matthea Dalton | 5-9 | OH | Fremont, Nebraska | Fremont HS
Dalton comes to Grand Forks after an outstanding prep career at Fremont HS…Dalton has led the state of Nebraska in kills since the beginning of the 2022 season…Has recorded 673 kills (2nd most in Nebraska; top 30 nationally) at .322 during her senior season…Owns the Nebraska state record for average kills per game (19.7)….First Nebraska Class A prep athlete to record over 600 kills in a single season in the last 20 years…2x state qualifier…Helped lead Fremont HS to conference and district championships in 2024…4x All-Conference selection…2023 Omaha World Herald Class A All-State First Team (2023)…A member of National Honors Society
Dalton on why she chose UND:
"I chose UND because I know the competitive environment will push me to be my best and because the coaches care about developing their athletes as players and people."
Coach J. Tupac on Dalton:
"One of the most prolific scorers to ever come out of the state of Nebraska, Mattie is a hardened competitor and an unbelievable teammate. Even more impressive than the numerous records she has broken, championships she has won, and accolades she has received, is her ability to deeply invest in herself and her teammates for the betterment of all. It was clear from our very first conversation that Mattie is all in on everything she does. Her passion and attention to detail is something that we know will push her and her teammates to elite levels. She is the perfect fit for our program, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome her to Grand Forks."
Ava Galvan | 6-3 | MB | Agoura Hills, California | Agoura Hills HS
Three-year letterwinner at Agoura Hills HS as a middle blocker…Recorded 540 kills in 2024 across seasons at Reef Volleyball Club and Agoura HS, while attacking at .400+ during both campaigns in addition to totaling 204 total blocks…Currently plays for Legacy Volleyball Club 18-Elite…Participated on the 2024 Far Western Junior National Qualifier team…Helped lead AHHS to a third-place finish in the 2024 Maramonte League…Named to the 2024 Junior Volleyball Association Watchlist…
Galvan on why she chose UND:
"I chose UND to play volleyball with highly-motivated coaches and athletes that believe in hard work, kindness and focus! When I visited the campus, not only was it new and beautiful but I could tell the volleyball team was built around love and respect for teammates, coaches and everyone else involved. I'm excited to have an incredible facility where I can better my skills as a player and unfold the challenges of being a student-athlete. I can't wait to perform for an amazing university that is built upon and devoted to the success of student-athletes!"
Coach J. Tupac on Galvan:
"Ava is an incredibly athletic and charismatic leader joining us from the west coast. She is also one of the most genuine and compassionate teammates you could find, bringing joy to the court and all of those around her. When she came on her visit it felt like she was already a part of the team, diving headfirst into learning and connecting with everyone she met. Her maturity and authenticity will be invaluable traits that she will bring to the program, along with her skills on the court. We can't wait to start working with her and to see the impact she will have on this program and her teammates."
Sara Gray | 5-9 | OH | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Holy Cross HS
Competed with Team Canada at the U19 World Championships in Hungary and Croatia in 2023… 2x National Excellence Program member (2023, 2024)…Member of Canada's U19 Youth National Team in 2022…Won Bronze Medal and an All-Star award as member of 16U Team Sask at 2022 Canadian Nationals…Helped lead Team Sask to consecutive fifth-place finishes at 18U Canadian Nationals (2023, 2024)…7x Provincial Champion…3x Sask Volleyball Female Athlete of the Year (16U, 17U, 18U)…Led Team Sask to fourth-place finish at the '22 Canada Summer Games…Five-year member of Team Sask (2020-2024)…
Gray on why she chose UND:
"I chose UND because of the immediate feeling of family I got from the team and coaches when I first stepped on campus. The support from Jesse and Kristen and the welcome I received from the team made it an easy decision to become a Fighting Hawk."
Coach J. Tupac on Gray:
"One of the most decorated youth players in Canada, Sara is an incredible teammate, competitor, and volleyball player. We have already seen the impact being a part of NEP (National Excellence Program) has on a young athletes' ability to adjust to the college level with some of our current Team Canada athletes. Couple that with Sara's additional experience competing at the u19 World Championships will only further prepare her to make an immediate impact at the NCAA level. Her passion to compete and be the best that she can be is infectious and will be no secret to UND Volleyball fans. Sara's experience at the highest levels of the game lends her a unique insight into what it takes to be elite and will set her apart from anyone else in the Summit League. We can't wait to have her join us next fall."
Kelly Kelsick | 5-8 | Libero | Pearland, Texas | Shadow Creek HS
Named to the 2025 AVCA All-American Watchlist…Named to AVCA Phenom Watchlist as a junior and senior at Texas 6A Pearland High…Helped lead high school team to five-straight playoff appearances including a regional semifinal appearance for the first time in program history…Recorded over 1,000 digs and 400 kills in three prep seasons…Earned first-team All-District honors as a sophomore and junior…2x varsity MVP (2022, 2023)…
Kelsick on why she chose UND:
"I chose UND because of the incredible team culture and the way the players encourage each other both on and off the court. Also, because the coaches will push me to not only be a better player but a better person as well."
Coach J. Tupac on Kelsick:
"Kelly is an incredible student, athlete, and leader. One thing that stood out early in the recruiting process with Kelly was the impact she has on the people around her. She is a calm force that can navigate the pressures of being an elite passer and defender. Having competed in multiple positions during her prep career, she comes uniquely prepared to compete at the collegiate level, with a great understanding of the game and how she can impact each and every moment. Her ability to bring people together, and to remain calm under pressure, will help carry her and her teammates to many successes over her time here."
Kimanni Rugley | 6-0 | MB | Pearland, Texas | Pearland HS
Senior year attack clip (.449) is a top 45 mark nationally and the fourth highest in the state of Texas…3x All-District performer with first team honors in 2022 and 2023…2x conference offensive player of the year (2022, 2023) and 2021 conference defensive player of the year…Conference MVP in 2023…2x selection to All-America team…Won 143 matches in four seasons at PHS…
Rugley on why she chose UND:
"I chose UND because of how homey my visit felt. The team was very welcoming and so were the coaches and the staff around the school. From the moment I walked onto campus I was comfortable and knew UND was where I am supposed to be."
Coach J. Tupac on Rugley:
"One of the most physically dominant players in the 2025 class, Kimanni is a force to be reckoned with both on offense and defense. More importantly, she cares deeply about her teammates and knows that the best teams value communication at an elite level. From the moment we first met, we knew Kimanni was a Fighting Hawk; she embodies our core values and knows how to strike a balance between being a relentless competitor and having fun. Kimanni's energy is infectious, and she will be an immediate fan favorite when she dons the green and white. UND has a long history of phenomenal middle blockers and Kimanni is set to continue, and elevate, that tradition even further. We are ecstatic to welcome her to Grand Forks this spring."
Sadie White | 5-8 | Setter | Herriman, Utah | Mountain Ridge HS
Sadie is one of only 5 players in Utah prep history to reach 3000 career assists and the first player to have multiple seasons of 1,000+ assists…Finished high school career with 3,228 assists (4th all-time in Utah history), 902 digs, 185 aces and 151 blocks…As a senior, White led the state of Utah in assists, ranked fifth in aces, ninth in blocks and 12th in digs…Among all setters during her senior year, White ranked first in digs, first in blocks, second in aces, and second in kills, while ranking first in terminations among setters in a 5-1…3x All-State selection…3x All-Region first-team honoree…2x Area Athlete of the Month…Only player in MRHS history to be two-time team captain…
White on why she chose UND:
"What mattered to me most when looking at where to play at the next level was the people. I wanted coaches who I enjoyed being around who I could geek-out about volleyball with and who can make me the best version of myself. I wanted teammates I genuinely looked forward to seeing and playing with whom I felt like I could mesh with. I wanted a community around the program that supported us. Ultimately, I was looking for a family away from my family and I truly feel like I've found all of that and more at North Dakota! I cannot wait to start competing with this team and I believe we are going to accomplish BIG things!"
Coach J. Tupac on White:
"Sadie is quite simply the greatest setter to ever come out of the state of Utah. It didn't take long for us to realize that Sadie was a perfect fit for us here at UND. She immediately stood out as someone who was hungry and driven to be elite. She asks great questions and wants to make her teammates better, which is a great quality for someone in the setter position. Sadie is an unbelievable leader and teammate, and not only will she lead this team offensively, but she has a love for defense that will set her apart from others in her position. There is no one better to lead this class than Sadie, and we can't wait to start working with her this spring."
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, follow on social media @UNDvolleyball or visit FightingHawks.com.
-- UND --
