DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis volleyball head coach Dan Conners and his staff have signed three players set to join their squad in the fall of 2025, with Laela Burgess, Faith Rabb-Patterson, and Maike Bertens Deckart all set to join the Aggie family.

Laela Burgess (S, DS/5'8"/San Luis Obispo, Calif./San Luis Obispo High School)

Coming to Davis from San Luis Obispo, Laela brings a wealth of experience in both club and high school volleyball, being a three-year varsity starter with the San Luis Obispo Tigers, to go along with six seasons of club experience.

During her senior season in 2024, Laela was strong both on the offensive and defensive sides of the court, putting up 94 kills and 24 total blocks for the Tigers. During the 2023 Junior Volleyball Association West Coast Cup, an event featuring some of the top volleyball clubs from the West Coast, she helped lead her team to a first-place finish.


Dan Conners on Burgess:

"Laela adds to the depth in our setting position. She is a big-time competitor and elite athlete.  Once she's able to learn our systems and build connections with her teammates, I see her elevating our team."

Faith Rabb-Patterson (MB, OPP/6'2"/Sacramento, Calif./Christian Brothers High School)

Committing to the Aggies from nearby Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, Faith was a strong defender throughout her time with the Falcons, starting for three seasons on the varsity team.

In 2023, during her junior season, Faith had a strong all-around year for her team, putting up 111 kills and blocking 36 shots to help lead the Falcons to a 34-8 record that included going undefeated at home and in the California Sac-Joaquin Section Capital Athletic League.


Conners on Rabb-Patterson:

"Faith adds more depth for our middle blocker position. She's a very hard worker and always looking for opportunities to grow and get better. Her strong values and work ethic make her a great fit for Aggie volleyball."

Maike Bertens Deckart (OH/6'1"/Santiago, Chile/Manhattan University)

Hailing from Santiago, Chile, Maike joins the Aggies after spending the last two seasons at Manhattan University in New York. During her senior season with the Jaspers, she led the team in both total kills (307) and kills per set (3.27). 

Prior to her time in Manhattan, Maike spent time at Bradley and Iowa Western. During her tenure with Iowa Western, she helped the Reivers to back-to-back NJCAA Division I national championships in 2020 and 2021. She was also named a First-Team NJCAA All-American following a freshman season where she collected 3.31 kills per set and hit .280.


Coach Conners on Bertens Deckart:

"Maike is a versatile and dynamic outside hitter. We anticipate that her experience and maturity will add tremendous value to the team. I think her competitive nature, competitiveness, and social personality will allow her to build connections and flourish in our program."

With the start of the 2025 season just a few short months away, the Aggie volleyball team will look to build off their 19-win season a year ago and compete for a conference title in their final year of Big West competition.