Volleyball Welcomes Lanara to Complete 2020 Roster
5/28/2020 2:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Greek addition to round out incoming recruiting class
WASHINGTON - GW volleyball head coach Sarah Bernson announced the signing of Markella Lanara to a National Letter of Intent on Friday, completing the program's 2020 roster.
"The latest addition of Markella to our 2020 roster is a very positive move for our program, as she adds experience and depth to our middle blocker group," Bernson said. "Coming from Greece, she continues the lineage of international athletes that have contributed so much to our program.
"Markella is hungry and determined to come to the U.S. and get a high-level education while playing the sport that she loves," Bernson said. "Her enthusiasm and experience playing in Europe will be a highlight for us this upcoming season."
Lanara hails from Athens, Greece where she attended The Moraitis School and competed for Olympiakos volleyball club. 2020 will mark the ninth straight year in which GW has had at least one international student-athlete on the roster.
"George Washington is my dream university," Lanara said. "It will give me the opportunity to combine academic excellence with competitive athletics while being in one of the most influential locations. I believe that joining the GW volleyball family will help me grow as a player and person and take my athletic and academic career to a whole new level."
A 6-2 middle blocker, Lanara has seen great success with both her school and club career. Her club team has qualified for the national competition each of the last four years, winning a pair of conference championships in the process. At The Moraitis School, she was named the best blocker in the conference for her team that won the Greek school championship in both 2018 and 2019.
"Having Markella join our team will round out our 2020 recruiting class," said assistant coach Brianna Barry. "She is thrilled to come to the U.S. and contribute to our growing program. She will bring a sense of calm composure on the court, but also exhibit a fiery competitive spirit that will mesh well with our returning student-athletes. I am thrilled to work with her in the middle position and see how much she can grow in her time here at GW."
Lanara will be one of three first-years on the roster this fall, joining newcomers Liv Womble (Fairfax, Va.) and Elizabeth Drelling (Orange, Calif.). GW will also welcome junior transfer Lauren LaBeck (USF) and graduate transfer Ashley Waggle (TCU) to the program.
"The latest addition of Markella to our 2020 roster is a very positive move for our program, as she adds experience and depth to our middle blocker group," Bernson said. "Coming from Greece, she continues the lineage of international athletes that have contributed so much to our program.
"Markella is hungry and determined to come to the U.S. and get a high-level education while playing the sport that she loves," Bernson said. "Her enthusiasm and experience playing in Europe will be a highlight for us this upcoming season."
Lanara hails from Athens, Greece where she attended The Moraitis School and competed for Olympiakos volleyball club. 2020 will mark the ninth straight year in which GW has had at least one international student-athlete on the roster.
"George Washington is my dream university," Lanara said. "It will give me the opportunity to combine academic excellence with competitive athletics while being in one of the most influential locations. I believe that joining the GW volleyball family will help me grow as a player and person and take my athletic and academic career to a whole new level."
A 6-2 middle blocker, Lanara has seen great success with both her school and club career. Her club team has qualified for the national competition each of the last four years, winning a pair of conference championships in the process. At The Moraitis School, she was named the best blocker in the conference for her team that won the Greek school championship in both 2018 and 2019.
"Having Markella join our team will round out our 2020 recruiting class," said assistant coach Brianna Barry. "She is thrilled to come to the U.S. and contribute to our growing program. She will bring a sense of calm composure on the court, but also exhibit a fiery competitive spirit that will mesh well with our returning student-athletes. I am thrilled to work with her in the middle position and see how much she can grow in her time here at GW."
Lanara will be one of three first-years on the roster this fall, joining newcomers Liv Womble (Fairfax, Va.) and Elizabeth Drelling (Orange, Calif.). GW will also welcome junior transfer Lauren LaBeck (USF) and graduate transfer Ashley Waggle (TCU) to the program.