LOGAN, Utah - Utah State head volleyball coach Rob Neilson has announced the addition of a pair of signees for the 2022 season, in Leah Wilton-LaBoy and Audrah Radford. Both have ties to Utah State and will continue the USU tradition in their respective families.
Wilton-LaBoy, a 5-foot-8 setter from San Rafael, California, led Marin Catholic High School to a North Coast Section title and a seventh-consecutive title at state. The Wildcats earned three Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) titles and two North Coast Section championships, along with finishing as the runner-up at the 2019 CIF Open Division state finals. Wilton-LaBoy earned individual recognition with first-team MCAL accolades in 2019, as well as being named the 2019 Stockton Classic MVP. She was recognized as a member of the 2020 AVCA Phenom List and named to various all-tournament teams throughout her career.
In addition to excelling on the court, Wilton-LaBoy is also strong in the classroom and is a four-year member of the National Honor Society, along with earning a Superior Academic Achievement Award for the Class of 2022. At the club level, Wilton-LaBoy has played eight years with the Absolute Volleyball Club, helping the team to three regional championships and a championship title at the 2021 PVL March Challenge.
Wilton-LaBoy already has strong ties to Utah State, as her mother, Melissa, played volleyball for the Aggies, and her uncle, Travis, was a member of the USU football team. Her grandfather, Mike, is currently a volunteer assistant with the Utah State volleyball program. Leah's father, CJ, is also an accomplished football agent and is the vice president of Wasserman Football.
"Leah is a champion, on and off the court. She is a leader and has an innate ability to make those around her better," Neilson said. "Aggie fans will love her fiery competitiveness and we are excited to see her direct our offense throughout her career."
Radford, a 6-2 outside from Nampa, Idaho, led the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the Southern Idaho Conference as Nampa High School qualified for the state finals in back-to-back years for the first time in 26 years. Radford was named Nampa's Player of the Year after totaling 492 kills with a hitting percentage of .415. Radford also earned a pair of first-team all-conference accolades on the volleyball court, along with first-team all-conference honors for basketball.
Radford also earned letters in golf, orchestra and tennis, and earned academic all-conference honors each of her four years in high school. At the club level, Radford played for the Idaho Crush Volleyball Club, coached by her mother and USU alum, Gina Radford. Her mother played volleyball for three years at Utah State, while her father also graduated from Utah State with a degree in agronomy.
"We couldn't wait until next fall for Audrah to join our team, so she's coming in January," Neilson said. "She is already an accomplished player, but we believe she is just scratching the surface of her potential. She is a great teammate and a wonderful addition to our Aggie family."
Utah State volleyball continues its 2021 season this week with road matches at San José State on Thursday, Nov. 11, and at Nevada on Saturday, Nov. 13.
Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
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