HONOLULU—University of Hawai'i women's volleyball head coach Robyn Ah Mow announced the signing of standout junior transfer, Paula Guersching. Guersching, is a 6-2 outside hitter who attacks high, hard and with a high volleyball IQ. She is a dynamic and powerful pin-hitter who has two seasons of eligibility left after playing her first two collegiate seasons at Youngstown State (Ohio).
 
Guersching comes to Hawai'i after becoming YSU's first ever AVCA All-America Honorable Mention awardee. She also was the first Penguin to be voted the Horizon League's Player of the Year as well as Offensive Player of the Year. She was named to the all-league First Team for the second-straight year after posting a prolific sophomore campaign in which she set numerous school and conference records. Guersching concluded 2022 ranked in the top five nationally in several statistical categories—finishing third with 5.24 kill/set and 5.87 points/set; fifth with 12.84 attacks/set and 576 total kills; and sixth with 646.0 total points—all of which were Youngstown State single-season records. She set league records for kills in a season during the 25-point, rally-scoring era, and her 35 kills at Northern Kentucky were the most ever in a 25-point rally-scoring match. For her efforts, she was named the Horizon League Player of the Week a record six times. The Schwalbach am Taunus, Germany-native became the fastest player in YSU history to reach 1,000 career kills finishing her two seasons with 1,006. In addition to her awards and accolades on the court, she also earned Horizon League All-Academic honors in the classroom this past year.
 
"We are very excited to welcome Paula into our Rainbow Wahine 'ohana. Paula adds depth, experience and maturity that will make an immediate impact in our program," states Ah Mow. "We feel that she is a perfect fit when it comes to our team culture and family. We cannot wait for her to arrive in Mānoa."
 
"I'm very excited to join the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team!" says Guersching. "The feeling of being a part of this family within an amazing community is like no other. I can't wait to start my journey in Hawai'i and play for a great program."
 
Guersching is one of four newcomers, and one of two transfers joining the Rainbow Wahine for the 2023 season.
  
2023 Signees
Stella Adeyemi – 5-11 | Outside Hitter | Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-Lavista South HS)
Jacyn Bamis – 6-1 | Middle Blocker | Spokane, Wash. (Clemson)
Paula Guersching – 6-2 | Outside Hitter | Schwalbach am Taunus, Germany (Youngstown State)
Tali Hakas – 5-11 | Outside Hitter | Kfar Saba, Israel (Hof Hasharon HS)