Rehr Adds a Pair for 2020

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Volleyball program added redshirt senior Bridget Wallenberger and rising sophomore Celeste Darling to its 2020 roster, head coach David Rehr announced Wednesday.

"With the addition of Bridget Wallenberger and Celeste Darling, we didn't just get better immediately but for the future as well," Rehr said. "Bridget has been successful at two different colleges and will contribute to our team right away, and Celeste had a great freshman season at Louisiana, can play both pins and is a proven scorer."

Below is an in-depth look on Wallenberger and Darling, as well as a breakdown of their careers.

BRIDGET WALLENBERGER
Middle Blocker / 6-2
Carpentersville, Ill.
Miami / Milwaukee

PRIOR TO HOUSTON
Appeared in two matches for the Canes in 2019 before sitting out the rest of the season due to injury … Recorded a career-high 15 kills against No. 10 Pitt (Nov. 18, 2018) … Posted a season-high eight blocks at Louisville (Nov. 2, 2018) … Surpassed the double-digit kill mark on eight occasions in 2018, including three of Miami's final four matches … Saw action in all 25 matches for the Canes in 2018… Spent 2016-17 with Milwaukee where she was a two-time All-Horizon League honoree and named the 2016 Horizon League Freshman of the year … Set a career-high 24 kills in the win over Northern Kentucky (Sept. 23, 2016), which she tied the following year against UIC (Oct. 1, 2017) … Finished 2017 campaign on a tear, having tallied 20 or more kills in five of her final eight matches, where she reached the .350 hitting percentage plateau four times … Averaged 3.33 kills and 2.07 blocks per set to go along with a .287 hitting percentage in her two seasons at Milwaukee.

HIGH SCHOOL
A four-year player at Jacobs High School, where she started on varsity all four seasons … Captained her squad in her final three seasons, having led the team in kills and blocks … Earned All-Area and All-Conference status her junior and senior season … Placed third with her club team at the AAU Championship in 2015.

PERSONAL
Daughter of Colleen and Joseph Wallenberger … Pursuing her master's degree in public policy with aspirations to work in the medical field … Lists her parents as her biggest influence … Has volunteered with animal and food shelters, along with the Special Olympics … Enjoys spending time with family and friends.

CELESTE DARLING
Outside Hitter / 6-0
McKinney, Texas
Louisiana

PRIOR TO HOUSTON
Made an appearance in 28 of Louisiana's 30 matches in her freshman season … Awarded the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic Tournament MVP after averaging 3.42 kills per set to go along with a .404 hitting percentage, resulting in a 3-0 record for the Ragin Cajun and her being named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Week (Sept. 9, 2019) … Slammed home a career-high 20 kills against Appalachian State (Oct. 4, 2019) … Surpassed the .200 hitting percentage mark in each of her six double-digit kill efforts … Put together a two-match stretch (Nov. 3-8, 2019) where she averaged 3.33 kills per set and posted a .371 hitting percentage to pace ULL to a pair of wins.

HIGH SCHOOL
Competed on varsity all four years at McKinney Boyd High School … A two-time All-District Honorable Mention selection from 2016-17 and a three-time Academic All-District honoree … Recorded 412 kills on a .286 hitting percentage in her senior campaign … Led her Dallas Skyline Juniors club team to a top-10 finish at the 2019 Junior Nationals … Selected to the 2015 USA Volleyball A2, having guided her team to a regional finals appearance.

PERSONAL
Daughter of JD and Suzanne Darling … Has and older brother, Cameron, who plays football at ULM … Majoring in kinesiology with aspirations to become a physical therapist … Has volunteered at Hugs Café in downtown McKinney … Enjoys going to the cinema and watching movies.

STAY CONNECTED
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JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
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