GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Rise on Monday announced a late-season addition with the signing of 6-foot-1 opposite hitter Danielle Harbin.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Harbin was a collegiate standout at the University of Arkansas from 2013-16 before embarking on a nine-year professional career in Europe, with stops in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. She recently completed an Italian Serie A1 campaign with Wash4Green Monviso Volley.
Harbin was named the Swiss League’s Best Scorer and Best Opposite during her professional rookie season with TS Volley Düdingen. After two seasons with the club (2017-19), she spent one year with P2P Smilers Baronissi (2019-20) in Italy before moving to Germany for five seasons — three with VfB Suhl LOTTO Thüringen (2020-23) and two with SC Potsdam (2023-25). While with SC Potsdam, Harbin helped the club finish as runner-up in the 2023-24 German Cup.
Harbin starred at Arkansas, earning AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention honors as a senior after ranking third in the SEC and 33rd nationally with 4.22 kills per set while averaging 4.78 points per set. She recorded double-digit kills in 24 matches during her final season, finishing with 464 kills — a top-15 single-season total in program history.
Grand Rapids had two open roster spots available after opposite hitter Lauren Jardine-Clark and middle blocker Leah Meyer were placed on season-ending injured reserve earlier this year.
The Rise will return to action on Friday, April 3 at home against the Dallas Pulse, with first serve set for 7 p.m.
ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL
Major League Volleyball, competing in its third season, is the longest-running formal professional volleyball league in the United States. Designed to elevate the sport through world class competition, commercial innovation, and cultural relevance, MLV brings together elite athletes, visionary leadership and global ambition. With alignment to USA Volleyball and a commitment to Olympic development, MLV serves as the premier pathway from professional play to the world stage. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
The Grand Rapids Rise made their debut in January 2024 and are playing their third season as members of Major League Volleyball. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise reached the championship match during their inaugural season and rank among the top U.S. women’s pro volleyball teams in attendance. The team is operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment and owned by Dan DeVos, who is also majority owner and CEO of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins and minority owner of Athletic Club Grand Rapids, which will begin play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2027. Visit grrise.com for more information.
Photo by Nicol Marschall