The volleyball team formally announced 3 more members to next season’s frosh class.***
They are:
- 6’0” Middle Blocker/Opposite Tatum Johnson (See posts 705-706 in this thread for more on her when her verbal commitment was 1st learned of.)
- 5’7” Setter / Defensive Specialist Katie Salonga (See posts 696-697 in this thread for more on her when her verbal commitment was 1st learned of.)
- 6’1”-6’2” Polish middle blocker Maria Splawska###
(### Since Ms. Splawska is the one I did not know previously about, I’d GUESS (???) she may have been the commit that Coach Mahoney was tweeting about in my post #735 above.)
OFFICIAL welcome and congrats to the new vball Buffs!
(***These 3 join 6’1” outside hitter Gwenyth (Gwen) Schiff, who was the only frosh vball Buff formally announced when the signing period began back on last November 8th. (Article on her signing can be found at
https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/11/8/colorado-volleyball-adds-one-new-buff-on-signing-day .))
Article on the 3 newest signings -
https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/4/20/volleyball-buffs-welcome-three-2024-recruits-to-the-team
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BOULDER -- The Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team welcomed three additional student-athletes to the 2024 recruiting class, head coach
Jesse Mahoney announced Wednesday. Tatum Johnson, Katie Salonga and Maria Splawska will join
Sarah Morton and
Gwen Schiff to complete an exciting class that will have an immediate impact as the Buffs move into the Big 12 Conference.
"We are very excited about adding Maria, Katie and Tatum to what is becoming a very talented 2024 class joining us this summer," head coach
Jesse Mahoney stated. "All three are competitive and hard-working student-athletes but most importantly, they are great people who will thrive in our program and team culture here at Colorado.
TATUM JOHNSON
Tatum Johnson is a Middle Blocker/Opposite from JSerra High School, and hails from Laguna Beach, California. Johnson broke single-season school record for JSerra in 2021 for most blocks in a season, and played varsity all four years. Her team made it to the sectional semi-finals in all four years she was on the team. She recently helped lead her junior club team to a Top-20 finish at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships.
She currently plays for Wave Volleyball Club in California, the same club that produced current Buffs,
Cayla Payne and
Lily Dwinell. Johnson chose Colorado because, " "I love the people and morals at the school. Everything about it drew me in and the campus is beautiful." She plans to major in Psychology when she gets to CU.
"Tatum is another versatile player who has the ability and skill set to play multiple positions at the net," coach Mahoney stated. "She is an explosive and dynamic athlete with a fast arm and a high motor and we expect her to add depth at both the Middle and Opposite positions. Tatum plays with a great competitive energy and we are excited for her to join our core of attackers."
Tatum's highlight video can be found
here.
- IG Handle: Tatum.johnson_
- Hometown: Laguna Beach, Calif.
- High School: JSerra Catholic
- Major: Psychology
- Why Major: "I love learning about people as individuals and how all of our brains function differently."
- Position: M/Opp
- "I would like to earn a Law degree in Family law."
- Hobbies: Reading, art, tanning, beach, working out, music, movies
KATIE SALONGA
Katie Salonga is a S/DS from Foothills High, and is from Pleasanton, California. She comes to Boulder as a recipient of CU's Presidential Scholarship. Salonga was a 4-year CIF Distinguished Scholar (CA) and Cal High Sports NCS Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2023-2024. She looks to major in Integrated Psychology upon her arrival this Fall.
While a standout player on the court, Salonga was a multi-sport athlete in high school. She lettered in both Track and Field and Beach Volleyball multiple times. Salonga was a four-year starter for the volleyball team at Foothills High, and was captain two of those years. They went 37-2 her senior year, before her team lost in the state semi-finals.
Salonga chose Colorado because, "Of the high quality academics and athletics, the gorgeous location, unbelievable facilities and the people were amazing."
"With both parents being coaches, Katie is a true gym rat raised with a passion for the game,"
Jesse Mahoney stated. "She has a broad skill-set and will see time training in both the Setter and Libero spots. Her energy is infectious and Buff fans will love watching her fly around the court."
Katie's highlight video can be found
here.
- IG Handle: katie_salonga
- Hometown: Pleasanton, Calif.
- High School: Foothills High
- Major: Integrated Physiology
- Why Major: "Interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Plan to attend either PT school or PA school."
- Position: S/DS
- "Plan to pursue a career in healthcare."
- Hobbies: working out, reading, surfing, hanging out with friends
MARIA SPLAWSKA
Maria Splawska is a 6'2 Middle Blocker from Stezyca, Poland and will bring high-level international experience to the Buffs this Fall. Maria's club team, GKS Wiezyca 2011 Stezyca,
recently won the 2024 Polish Junior Club National Championship. Earlier this year, she was named the best middle blocker at the 2024 EEVZA U20 Qualifications. Splawska is a member of the Polish Junior and Senior National teams. She intends to major in Business upon her arrival to Boulder.
She chose Colorado because, "There are great people there who I believe will be the right people to help me achieve my goals. In addition, Colorado offers great conditions for development in the context of sports and science."
"Maria is a powerful and athletic Middle Blocker who is a product of the Polish National Team pipeline," Mahoney said. "She is versatile as an attacker, comfortable off of two-feet as well as running the slide. I've been most impressed with Maria as a blocker – she has a high motor and great physicality at the net. Her experience playing at the International level will help her quickly transition to the collegiate game."
Maria's highlight video can be found
here.
- IG M.splawska_
- Hometown: Stezyca, Poland
- Major: Business
- "It will give me a lot of scope to find work in many areas of life later on."
- Position: Middle Blocker
- "Want to play on at the highest possible level, and grow as a person."
- Hobbies: mountain climbing, cooking, listening to music, reading
UP NEXT
The Buffs recently released their Big 12 Conference schedule that they will play out in the fall.
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Since
Maria Splawska was the one I didn’t previously know about, a little more I could find on her:
An Instagram post about her commitment from what looks to be a company / organization that specializes in getting Polish athletes places at American universities –
A page listing teams she’s played for (It already lists the Buffs as one!) -
https://women.volleybox.net/maria-splawska-p62564/clubs
A page showing individual stats for her for one team she’s been playing with (or played with) this past season -
https://1ligakobiet.volleystation.com/en/players/2101143/
The one video highlight I could find for her (from one match held approximately one year ago) –
www.hudl.com
