Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Women's Volleyball Signs Three Players
4/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 13, 2017
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Long Beach State women's volleyball welcomed three new players into the program this week, with a trio of foreign players signing their National Letters of Intent to play for the Beach starting in the 2017-18 season. LBSU increases its international flair with three new European players: Mina Andjelkovic (Serbia), Radi Marinova (Bulgaria) and Monika Simkova (Slovakia).
Mina Andjelkovic (6'2", Setter)
At 6-foot-2, Andjelkovic has great size for a setter, and she has played locally for ProPlay Volleyball Club in Fullerton. She is also a senior at Cantwell-Sacred Heart High School in Montebello, Calif. Andjelkovic earned international playing experience at the 2015 Girls' U18 World Championships in Peru, playing for Team Serbia.
"We're very fortunate to have a setter come in that is this talented," said Long Beach State head coach Brian Gimmillaro. "Mina is a tall, strong, experienced setter who is far more accomplished than her age. I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with her."
Radi Marinova (6'2", Middle Blocker)
Marinova brings with her a wealth of international playing experience in Bulgaria, where she's spent the last two years playing in the country's top women's league for Kazanlak Volley. She has also been involved in the Bulgarian National Team training program since 2013, playing on the Women's U20 World Championship squad in 2015.
"Radi is an outstanding middle blocker," Gimmillaro said. "She's very fast and very athletic, quick off her feet and a very good athlete. She has a bright future both indoor and on the beach with our program."
Monika Simkova (6'2", Outside Hitter/Opposite)
Simkova comes to Long Beach State from Slovakia, where she has been a recurring member of the Slovakian National Team. Her first appearance came in 2014 at the U19/U20 Volleyball European Championships, and she has competed in each subsequent year as well. Simkova is a left-handed attacker who can play either as an outside hitter or an opposite.
"Monika is one of the best players in Slovakia, and she is a member of their national team," Gimmillaro said. "She's a lefthander who will help us immediately as either a left-side hitter or an opposite. She's very skilled, very strong and an excellent competitor."
The three signees give LBSU five European players from five different countries, joining Anete Brinke (Latvia) and Kjersti Norveel (Norway). Long Beach State is also set to welcome in a pair of Division I transfers to the program, once they have completed the transfer process.
