(Editor’s note: University of Montana media release)
MISSOULA — Montana added another volleyball player to its roster, with defensive specialist Isabelle Garrido recently joining the program.
Garrido is a native of Issaquah, Wash., where she starred at Skyline High School. As a 2018 first-team All-KingCo player, she helped the Spartans to a district championship. The senior captain holds Skyline single-match and single-season digs records, recording 44 and 516, respectively.
In addition to her time playing for Skyline, Garrido played club for Sudden Impact Volleyball Club.
“What really stood out to us about Isabelle was her energy,” head coach Allison Lawrence said. “She’s someone who plays with a lot of passion, a lot of intensity and a lot of care for her teammates. We knew she would add to our team immediately, just through that.”
Lawrence also liked what she saw in Garrido on the court, however. Lawrence watched Garrido play more than a handful of times, staying on her team’s court for nearly every major qualifier tournament last spring. It was through repeatedly watching Garrido that she noticed a trend.
“Her serve-receive and defense kept her team in tight matches, and they were playing high-level volleyball weekend after weekend after weekend,” Lawrence said. “It was her ball control and energy that kept her team playing above their potential and beating teams that, to me, had better athletes.
“She’s someone who makes her teammates better, so we knew we wanted her.”
Garrido is the sixth addition to the Griz volleyball program. Last month, Lawrence announced Lexie Gleasman (OH from Chelan, Wash.), Amethyst Harper (OH from Fresno, Calif.), Kelly Horning (MB from Post Falls, Idaho), Isabel List (OPP from Wasilla, Alaska) and Catie Semadeni (OH from Fort Collins, Colo.).
Garrido has an interest in studying health and human performance at Montana. Her older sister, Gabrielle, played volleyball at Bellevue College.
The Grizzlies concluded their 2018 season two weeks ago at the Big Sky tournament, finishing the year with their most wins since 2013.
