April 23, 2012

BERKELEY - This fall, California volleyball fans will see a new face on the court in Joan Caloiaro, who recently transferred to Cal from the University of San Francisco, Cal head coach Rich Feller announced.

"We are very pleased to have Joan Caloiaro join our team," Feller said. "Joan is an experienced collegiate setter who has proved that she is a high-level athlete. As a two-year starting setter, she will bring with her the knowledge of offensive systems. She is extremely competitive and has great motivation to succeed with our program. She adds depth to our setting position and will compete right away for playing time. We welcome Joan to the Cal family."

As a sophomore in 2011, Caloiaro started all 29 matches, amassing a 9.83 assists per set mark. She also contributed 24 service aces and averaged 0.93 kills per set. After a stellar freshman campaign in 2010, she was named an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention and to the WCC All-Freshman team.

"I chose Cal because of the great academic opportunity," Caloiaro said. "I am excited to play on a top program under coach Feller. The Pac-12 is an extremely competitive conference, and I'm so excited to join such an athletic team."

Caloiaro joins the storied Cal volleyball program that posted a flawless nonconference schedule in 2011 and an impressive 16-6 record in the prestigious Pac-12 to finish third. The Bears then made their incredible program-record 15th trip to the NCAA Tournament before getting upset by UNC 3-2 in the first round. Over the course of last season, Cal spent four weeks at No. 1 - marking the highest polling in program history - and was ranked in the top 10 for the entirety of the season.

Joan Caloiaro
Hometown: Saratoga, Calif.
High school: Archbishop Mitty High School
Height: 5-11
Position: Setter

At San Francisco:
• In 2011, was the team's go-to setter, averaging 9.83 assists per set
• Was second on the team in 2011 with 24 service aces; also averaged 0.93 kills per set
• As a freshman in 2010, she led the Dons in assists per set (7.08), aces (23) and was second in kills per set (2.23) and digs per set (2.83)
• Named All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention and earned WCC All-Freshman Team honors in 2010
• Lauded with placement on the 2010 Bluejay Invitational and Powerade/Asics Challenge All-tournament teams

High School/Club Ball:
• Won a bronze medal at 17 open with Vision club team
• Named an AVCA All-American in 2009
• Won back-to-back CIF Division II State Championships in 2008 and 2009 with the Archbishop Mitty High School team that went 39-0 in 2009 and was ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN
• Was named to the All-Tournament team for the CIF State Finals
• Two-time first-team Central Coast Section selection
• Named first-team West Catholic Athletic League in 2009

Personal:
• Played basketball - including AAU ball - until she was a junior in high school
• Hopes to play volleyball professionally abroad
• Brother Angelo played basketball at USF and is going to play professionally in Italy, while other brother Vinny is a current soccer letterwinner at USF
• Cousins with Kerri Walsh
• Other cousin Marcia Wallis played professional golf and soccer and cousin Brian Barnard was on the U.S. national rugby team
• Notes one of her best sports moments was when her high school team won back-to-back state championships and went 39-0 her senior year
• Mother Maureen Formico-Caloiaro attended Pepperdine and father Dominik Caloiaro went to De Anza College