Garus Adds Four Recruits for 2023

BOISE, Idaho – Shawn Garus, Boise State Volleyball Head Coach, announced Tuesday the addition of two NCAA Division I transfer students and two prep standouts for the 2023 campaign. The newest recruits include transfers Breanna Mitchell (CSUN) and Noelani Helm (Portland), as well as Kayleigh Carpenter and Bridey O'Connor, who are currently seniors in high school.

Mitchell is already enrolled at Boise State and is practicing with the team in spring workouts, while Helm will graduate from Portland this semester, then join the team for summer workouts.

Mitchell played her freshman season at CSUN (Cal State Northridge), where she played in 32 matches as a libero/defensive specialist. She earned Big West All-Freshman Team honors after leading the conference (58th nationally) in digs with 513 to go with a team-high 33 service aces and 104 assists. Mitchell recorded 27 matches with double-digit digs, including nine with 20-plus digs and one with 34. She has three years remaining eligibility to play for the blue and orange.

Helm played for the Portland Pilots of the West Coast Conference for four years, where she saw action in 83 contests, including 58 starts at setter. The Walla Walla, Wash., native recorded career totals at Portland of 1,501 assists, 298 kills, 52 service aces, 559 digs, 107 blocks and 409.5 points.

In 2022, the 5-10 setter ranked sixth in the conference for assists with 771, 10th for assists per set at 6.88 apg, and 12th for digs with 280 and digs per set at 2.5 dpg. In addition, Helm recorded 12 double-doubles and four triple-doubles last fall. She was named All-WCC Honorable Mention and Academic All-WCC as a senior. Helm has one year of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer.

Carpenter is currently a senior at South Salem High School in Oregon, where she is a four-year letterwinner for the Saxons varsity team. As a senior this past fall, she was named All-Oregon First Team, Central Valley Conference MVP and All-CVC First Team. She is a two-time all-conference honoree, and the fourth SSHS volleyball player all-time to make an all-state team. The outside hitter tallied 882 career kills, 112 service aces, 47 blocks and 626 digs. Carpenter plays her club ball for the North Pacific Juniors Volleyball Club.

O'Connor is a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., where she is a two-year starter for the Eagles varsity team. She is a two-time All-Trinity League honoree, including first team as a senior. The 6-foot rightside hitter was the team MVP and captain as a senior. During her final two seasons at SMCHS, O'Connor recorded 311 kills, 47 blocks and 69 digs. She plays her club ball for A4 Volley out of Lake Forest, Calif., where her U16 team took first at Junior Nationals for the USA Division.

Players Mentioned

Noelani Helm

Bre Mitchell

Boise State Athletics