WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University volleyball team welcomes five newcomers to the Hilltop for the 2024 campaign, as announced by Head Coach
AJ Bonetti on Wednesday. The five freshmen will join 11 returners for the Hoyas from a year ago.
"This 2024 incoming class of student-athletes represents so much for us at Georgetown Volleyball," said Bonetti. "We have student-athletes from all over the country represented who have played at the highest levels you can within the club world. I'm proud of our staff and the work we put into this class as it is a great representation of the direction we are taking this program. We are constantly pushing the bar higher and higher for our incoming players but also our returners as well. Every position is represented in this class and that will only continue to raise the level of competition in our gym now and into the future. Hoya faithful are going to really enjoy supporting this group from day one."
Taylor Mercado
5-2 | Libero
Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Polytechnic
Prior to the Hoyas: Four-year starter at Long Beach Polytechnic … Led the Jackrabbits to a Moore League championship (2023) … Named Moore League MVP (2023), All-CIF (2023), Team MVP (2022, 2023) and earned the 1600 Atlantic Award (2023) … Also played beach volleyball, being named first team all-league and winning a league championship (2023) … Played club for Mizuno Long Beach.
Why Georgetown: The immediate feeling I got when on the campus and the sense of belonging the program has already given me.
Dionna Mitchell
5-11 | Outside Hitter
Orlando, Fla. / Timber Creek
Prior to the Hoyas: Four-year starter at Timber Creek … Led the Wolves to East Metro Conference Championships in 2020 and 2021, Nike TOC Runner Up Gold Division 2021, a District Championship in 2021 and Nike TOC Third Place National Division 2023 … Compiled 1,067 career kills, 707 career digs and 115 career blocks with a .245 career hitting percentage … Named East Metro All-Conference Team (2023), Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team (2023) and Timber Creek Co-MVP (2023) … Tabbed Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team (2022), Timber Creek Offensive Award (2022) and Timber Creek MVP (2022) …Earned Timber Creek Coaches Award (2021), Nike Tournament of Champions "Outstanding Outsides" (2021) and Prep Volleyball "Five to Watch from Florida" recognition (2021) … Hitting statistics leader #1 in Florida as a freshman (2020) … Played club for Top Select Volleyball Academy … Earned third place at AAU Nationals in 2017 and 2018, USAV third place 2018 and second place at AAU Nationals in 2023 … Named an All-America Under Armour Nominee in 2022 and 2023 … AVCA Phenom Watchlist (2023) … Prep Volleyball Honorable Mention at Big South Qualifier 2023 … Prep Dig #8 in Florida 2023 … Prep Volleyball All Tournament Team 2023 … HP Florida Region All-Tournament Team Award 2021 … AAU All-American (2018) and All-Tournament USAV (2018).
Why Georgetown: It is a university where I can excel academically and athletically, and is a prestigious school with a great reputation. I have family in the D.C. area and it has a beautiful campus.
Natalie Nguyen
5-5 | Setter
Vienna, Va. / Flint Hill
Prior to the Hoyas: Four-year starter locally at Flint Hill School … Captained the Huskies as a junior and senior … Led Flint Hill to three VISAA Division I State Championships (2021-23) and three ISL AA Championships (2021-23) … Huskies posted a 50+ game winning streak (2021-2023) and earned a MaxPreps Top 25 ranking (2023) and a PrepVolleyball Power 30 Ranking (2022) … Named VISAA First Team All-State (2022, 2023), ISL AA First Team All-Conference (2023) and Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention (2023) … Tabbed AVCA Best and Brightest First Team (2023) and VBMagazine HS Midseason ION Watchlist (2022) … Tallied over 1,000 assists in her career … Also competed in track & field at Flint Hill … Played club for Metro Volleyball … Named VCA Phenom (2021) and Prep Volleyball Star Who Shined (2021) … Placed ninth at USAV Open Nationals in 2024, fifth in 2023 and 13th in 2022.
Why Georgetown: I came to Georgetown because I wanted to be a part of the culture the volleyball program offers, the challenging academics and the amazing people and campus.
Berkeley Ploder
6-1 | Middle Blocker
Barrington, Ill. / Barrington
Prior to the Hoyas: Earned four letters as a three-year starter at Barrington … Led the Broncos to four-straight conference championships (2020-23), three-straight regional and sectional championships (2021-23), a Class 4A fourth-place finish in state (2023) and two Class 4A third-place finishes in state (2021, 2022) … As a senior in 2023, named all-conference, to the JVA Watch List, News Gazette All State Team (2nd team), Cook County All-Area Team, IVCA All-Academic Team, AVCA Best and Brightest Award, AVCA Girls High School All-America Watch List and ILL Prep VB Top 100 class of 2024 … Hit .343 with 1.1 blocks per set as a senior … As a junior, named to the JVA Watch List, Cook County All-Area Team, IVCA All-Academic Team and AVCA Phenom Watchlist … Played club for Sky High, placing fifth in gold in national at USA Nationals (2024).
Why Georgetown: I came to Georgetown for the supportive volleyball program made up of great ladies. Also, I love the location and weather in DC. Georgetown's campus is also beautiful.
Juleigh Urbina
5-10 | Setter
Lakeland, Fla. / McKeel Academy
Prior to the Hoyas: Varsity starter at McKeel Academy since seventh grade … Played in 441 career sets, amassing 3,306 assists, 1,039 digs, 470 service aces, 441 blocks and 387 kills … Named Second Team All-Polk County as a seventh-grader (2017), First Team All-Pol County as an eighth-grader (2019) and freshman (2020) and concluded her high school career as a three-time All-Polk County Player of the Year (2021-23) … Named District Player of the Year five times (2019-23) … Led McKeel to the most wins in program history including three district championships (2021-23) and an appearance in the regional semifinals … Also competed in track & field at McKeel … Played club for OTVA Volleyball … Named an AAU All-American in 2021 and selected to play for Team Florida.
Why Georgetown: Georgetown felt like home and the coaches and girls on the volleyball team made me feel like family.
