2025 Volleyball Roster
Jersey Number 11
Sophia Vella
- Class:
- Freshman
- Position:
- Middle Blocker/Opposite
- Height:
- 6-1
- Hometown:
- Danville, Calif.
- High School:
- San Ramon Valley HS
2025 (Freshman): Heart of the Grizzly Award… TMU MVP… Co-Most Improved Player… Academic All-Big Sky… appeared in 18 matches, playing 33 total sets… recorded 35 total kills, averaging 1.06 per set… recorded 41 points and two assists… recorded 10 total blocks and 10 digs… season high 10 kills at the Big Sky Tournament in a quarterfinal match against Weber State (11/24)… hit .240 in the Weber State match… had multiple kills in eight different matches… had 5 kills on .556 hitting in a win at Idaho (9/27)… recorded 4 kills on 5 swings for an .800 hitting percentage at Northern Colorado (11/1)… had 3 kills on .333 hitting at Idaho State (11/21)… season high 5 blocks in a win at Gonzaga (9/18)… had five matches with one block… season high 2 digs at Utah Valley (8/29).
Career Highs
Kills: 10, vs. Weber State (Nov. 24, 2025)
Attacks: 25, vs. Weber State (Nov. 24, 2025)
Assists: 1, twice
Digs: 2, at Utah Valley (Aug. 29, 2025)
Blocks: 5, at Gonzaga (Sept. 18, 2025)
High School: A 2025 graduate of San Ramon Valley HS… three year varsity letter winner… team captain for three years… All-League Second Team selection in 2023… her team finished 1st in the North Coast Section in 2022… played with the NorCal Volleyball Club… played against current Grizzly Emma Williams at 18s Nationals in 2023… also played soccer for two years in high school, winning a league championship as a freshman and captaining the team for two years.
Personal: Parents are Tony (dad) and Keri Vella (stepmom), and Christie Gundling (mom)… has three younger sisters, Grace, Vivian, and Avery… her dad, Tony, played football and baseball at Stanford… stepmom Keri was a swimmer at San Diego State… her uncle Nick played football at Montana and was part of 2001 National Championship team… her aunt Amy played soccer at UCLA… her grandpa John played football at USC.
Coach Lawrence on Vella: "I think the theme of the 2025 freshman class is growth and connection. Her growth has been outstanding, and she's worked really hard for that, so I think the sky is the limit. The speed of her arm, the speed of her feet, and how aggressive she is will make her a huge factor for us."
Career Highs
Kills: 10, vs. Weber State (Nov. 24, 2025)
Attacks: 25, vs. Weber State (Nov. 24, 2025)
Assists: 1, twice
Digs: 2, at Utah Valley (Aug. 29, 2025)
Blocks: 5, at Gonzaga (Sept. 18, 2025)
High School: A 2025 graduate of San Ramon Valley HS… three year varsity letter winner… team captain for three years… All-League Second Team selection in 2023… her team finished 1st in the North Coast Section in 2022… played with the NorCal Volleyball Club… played against current Grizzly Emma Williams at 18s Nationals in 2023… also played soccer for two years in high school, winning a league championship as a freshman and captaining the team for two years.
Personal: Parents are Tony (dad) and Keri Vella (stepmom), and Christie Gundling (mom)… has three younger sisters, Grace, Vivian, and Avery… her dad, Tony, played football and baseball at Stanford… stepmom Keri was a swimmer at San Diego State… her uncle Nick played football at Montana and was part of 2001 National Championship team… her aunt Amy played soccer at UCLA… her grandpa John played football at USC.
Coach Lawrence on Vella: "I think the theme of the 2025 freshman class is growth and connection. Her growth has been outstanding, and she's worked really hard for that, so I think the sky is the limit. The speed of her arm, the speed of her feet, and how aggressive she is will make her a huge factor for us."
Monday, March 30
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Tuesday, December 30
