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University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

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2023 Women's Beach Volleyball Roster

Jamie Mitchell

3 Lea Kruse

3 Lea Kruse

  • Height:
    5-11
  • Class:
    Graduate Student
  • Hometown:
    Quarnbek, Germany
  • Prev School:
    Irvine Valley College

Summary

Biography

2023 (Graduate)
  • Went 9-11 overall while playing at flights 2 through 5.
  • Played more than half her matches at the No. 4 flight, going 5-6.
  • Competed with five different partners during the year. 
  • Played a dozen matches with Sofia Russo, finishing 6-6, including a straight set win over Long Beach State at the No. 4 court.
  • Appeared in each of the final five matches of the season with partner Sarah Burton.
  • Picked up a straight-set win over No. 20 Arizona at the No. 4 flight.
  • Competed at the No. 5 flight in UH’s NCAA Tournament match against Loyola Marymount.
  • Named academic all-Big West.
  • Finished her career with an 18-15 overall record.
  • Named to the Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll.

2022 (Senior)
  • Appeared in five total matches.
  • Went 4-1 at the No. 5 court. 
  • In her opening match of the season, picked up a three-set win with partner Amirah Ali against second-ranked UCLA.
  • Went 3-0 during the Big West Challenge, including a three-set win with Riley Wagoner to help UH defeat host and No. 15 Long Beach State, 3-2.

2021 (Junior)
  • Appeared in eight matches.
  • Played all eight matches with Harlee Kekauoha.
  • Went 5-3 overall while playing at the No. 2 and 3 flights.
  • All five wins came in straight sets, highlighted by the clinching point in UH’s regular-season upset of No. 6 Cal Poly. 
  • Also competed in exhibition action at the No. 6 court.

Prior to UH:
  • Attended Irvine Valley College in California for two seasons.
  • A standout on both the indoor and beach volleyball teams.
  • Was named co-Most Valuable player of the Orange Empire Conference in both sports in 2018-19.
  • Helped lead Irvine Valley to conference titles during both campaigns.
  • In the 2019 beach season, Kruse led IVC to an unblemished conference record and a No. 3 state ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association final poll.
  • Also finished third in the individual pairs portion of the state championship along with teammate Renata Bath.
  • Named Irvine Valley's Women's Athlete of the Year for the 2018-19 school year.
  • Earned AVCA Team Academic Award in 2019 and a place on the Dean´s List all four semesters.
  • Part of an indoor squad that went 49-3 in two seasons and a beach squad that went 25-3 in 2019.
  • Played under former Rainbow Warrior volleyball player and UH coach Tom Pestolesi.
 
Prep:
  • A 2017 graduate of Gymnasium Kronshagen in Kiel, Germany.
  • Played six seasons of club volleyball for Schleswig-Holsteinischer Volleyball Verband (SHVV).
  • Captain of the state select team.
 
 Personal:
  • Born in Kiel, Germany.
  • Full first name is Lea Ann.
  • Earned an undergraduate degree in psychology.
  • Pursuing her master's degree in education.
  • Has two older sisters.
  • Parents are Jörg and Susanne Kruse of Quarnbek, Germany.

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Historical Player Information

  • 3

    2021Junior

    6'0"
    3
  • 3

    2022Junior

    5'10"
    3
  • 3

    2023Graduate Student

    5'11"
    3