OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha volleyball coach
Rose Shires announced Tuesday that Canisius College transfer
Claire Leonard will join the Maverick program this fall.
Leonard, a 6-0 outside hitter, is a native of Bettendorf, Iowa. As a freshman at Canisius, she led her team with 3.08 kills per set and was named to the 2017 All-MAAC Rookie Team. Leonard was a three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week and ranked fifth in the conference for kills per set and total kills (308), as well as fourth for points per set. She had 15 double-figure kill performances last season, including a career-high 22 kills vs. Iona.
Leonard was previously a four-year letterwinner at Bettendorf High School. A team captain as a senior, she was a first-team all-conference selection and helped her squad to a 5A state runner-up finish. Leonard capped her senior campaign with 271 kills, 251 digs, 51 blocks and 34 aces, and for her career, she had 408 kills, 297 digs, 116 blocks and 46 aces.
Leonard played club volleyball for the Iowa Rockets.
"We are very excited that Claire will join our program this fall," Shires said. "She brings a tremendous amount of Division I competitive experience and success as an outside hitter. She has a heavy arm and is a force at the net.
"We have heard nothing but great things about Claire and have enjoyed getting to know her. She is the type of person who will foster our culture in a positive way."
