GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Rise on Friday announced the signings of four of their five recent draft picks in Morgahn Fingall (FING-guhl), Sydney Bolding, Kenna Sauer (SOUR) and Karly Basham, along with free agent Mac Podraza (poh-DRAH-zuh). The Rise have also waived setter Morgan Bergren, who joined the team on a tryout for mini-camp in early December.
Fingall was selected as the fourth pick in the first round of the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation Draft held on Dec. 11 in Atlanta. The 6-foot-1 opposite hitter from Fairfax, Virginia, was a two-time AVCA All-American and All-SEC First Team selection during her five-year career at Tennessee. This past season, Fingall averaged 4.24 kills, 1.83 digs, 0.74 blocks, and 0.31 aces per set while hitting a .322 percentage.
“Morgahn is a player whom I have watched over the years and coached against when she was a freshman at Tennessee,” Rise head coach Cathy George said. “Morgahn is so explosive, strong, and powerful. Her game has grown, and she is a game-changer.”
Bolding was chosen with the 11th overall pick in the second round. The 6-foot-5 middle blocker from Pickens, South Carolina, played five seasons of college volleyball, with three seasons at Kansas State (2021-23) and two at Jacksonville (2019-20). During that time, Bolding put down 812 kills and 489 blocks. In 2022, she was named an AVCA Midwest All-Region Honorable Mention and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection.
“Sydney is a long, dynamic athlete who is impactful as a blocker,” said George. “Offensively, she is strong both in front of and behind the setter. That versatility and her growth over the last two years really made her standout at Kansas State.”
Sauer, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Ankeny, Iowa, was selected as the 18th overall pick in the third round of the draft. She played at three different colleges during her five-year collegiate career: Houston (2023), Texas Tech (2021-22) and Missouri (2019-21). In 112 college matches, Sauer accumulated 1,233 kills, 900 digs, 197 blocks, and 73 aces. Sauer was a three-time All-Big 12 First Team selection and was named a 2023 AVCA Third Team All-American.
“Kenna Sauer really made a difference in elevating the Houston volleyball team,” George said. “She is a six-rotation player who is a high-level passer and defender, and is lethal at the net.”
Basham, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, was picked in the fifth round, 32nd overall. The 5-foot-8 libero played three seasons at Washington State (2021-23) and two seasons at Texas A&M (2019-20) for a total of 135 college matches played. Over five seasons, Basham picked up 1,424 digs (10.55 average per match), 407 assists, and 113 aces.
“Karly actually has family in St. Joseph, Michigan, and is quite familiar with the state,” George said. “She is a fierce competitor and shows up in every set. We know that she brings stability to the court, a lot of fight, and plenty of talent.”
Podraza joins the Rise as an undrafted free agent. The 6-2 setter from Sunbury, Ohio, is coming off a graduate season at Penn State after playing four seasons at Ohio State. Podraza is a three-time All-American (second team in 2022, third team in 2021, and honorable mention in 2020) and was named the Big Ten Setter of the Year in 2022. In 140 college matches played, Podraza accumulated 5,115 assists (36.5 per match), 998 digs, 325 kills, 283 blocks, and 56 aces.
“Mac has been one of the top setters in the Big Ten and nationally,” said George. “She plays with a competitive fire and has a strong volleyball aptitude.”
These six transactions put the Rise at 19 players heading into the team’s preseason training camp next week. Fourteen players will make the final roster with an additional two “practice player” spots being available.
More information about training camp will be released soon.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
Founded in December 2022 as the first Pro Volleyball Federation franchise and Grand Rapids’ first major-league women’s sports team, the Grand Rapids Rise will make their debut at Van Andel Arena on Jan. 25, 2024. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise’s 14-player roster will play 24 matches (12 home, 12 away) during its inaugural season. The team is operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment and owned by Dan DeVos, who is also co-owner and CEO of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Visit grrise.com for the schedule and to purchase tickets.
Photos by University of Tennessee, Kansas State University, University of Houston, Washington State University and Penn State University