Mansfield Announces Addition of Three Transfers for 2024

NORMAN – Oklahoma head volleyball coach Aaron Mansfield announced the addition of three transfer athletes for the 2024 season Monday. Kelli Jo Burgess, Kamille Gibson and Leah LaBoy have all joined the Sooners for the spring semester.

KELLI JO "KJ" BURGESS | MIDDLE BLOCKER | 6-2 | LEHI, UTAH

Kelli Jo "KJ" Burgess joins the Sooners from the University of Utah and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining after redshirting her sophomore year. As a freshman, she was the Pacific South Region Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team. Burgess led all Pac-12 freshman in hitting percentage (.376) and blocks per set (1.20), while ranking in the top-six nationally among freshmen in each category. Her hitting percentage of .376 ranked second all-time at Utah in a single season and he hit above .400 in 16 matches. On three different occasions, she recorded at least seven blocks and led Utah in blocks in 16 matches. She posted 109 total blocks and 162 kills during her freshman campaign.

"I recruited KJ out of high school, and it has been really fun to see the progress she has made over the past 3 years and how much more confident she is as a player and person," Mansfield said. "KJ has a very steady demeanor and willingness to learn which will both help her tap into a ton of untapped potential that we are excited to explore with her. We are excited to see the impact she makes here over the next 3 years."

Prior to Utah, Burgess was a three-time state champion at Lone Peak HS where she was a 2021 Second Team AVCA High School All-American. She was named the 2021 Deseret News 6A Player of the Year and was a two-time first-team all-state selection. During her senior year, she recorded 183 kills with a .375 hitting percentage and 105 blocks.

"I'm super excited to join the OU volleyball team," Burgess said. "I felt a connection with the coaches right away and I know they will push me to grow as a player on and off the court. The program is building something special, and I love the college town vibe. The facilities are top-notch and playing in the SEC sounds like a blast. I can't wait to make memories at the University of Oklahoma!"

A native of Lehi, Utah, Burgess is the daughter of Chris and Lesa Burgess, both of whom were student-athletes at Utah. Her father, Chris, is an assistant coach for the Utah men's basketball team. She has four younger siblings: Zoey, Ava, Beckham and Zachary.

KAMILLE GIBSON | OUTSIDE HITTER/MIDDLE BLOCKER | 6-1 | CROSSROADS, TEXAS

Kamille Gibson joins the Sooners after one season at the University of Tennessee. Gibson will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting her freshman season.

"I chose Oklahoma because the people I met and the culture I was able to get a glimpse of felt like home away from home," Gibson said. "The values of the team and the coaches were aligned with all the things that create successful and powerful young women and the resources they provide their female student athletes are next to none."

"Kamille has played multiple positions throughout her volleyball career and has the ability to make an impact wherever she is on the court, which is very unique," Mansfield said. "Kamille is a very dynamic athlete with an extremely high ceiling of how good she can get. We can't wait to be a part of her development here as a person and athlete.

Prior to Tennessee, Gibson played for Braswell High School in Crossroads, Texas. Invited to the 2022 UA Next Camp, Gibson finished her high school career with 1,161 kills, 500 digs and 137 blocks. She was named to the District 5-6A first team in 2021 and to the second team in 2020.

From an athletic family, Gibson's father played collegiate basketball at Oklahoma City University. She has one sister, Kamryn Gibson, who currently plays women's basketball for Kilgore College. Her oldest sibling, Micaya White, was a four-time AVCA All-American at Texas and was named VolleyballMag.com Freshman of the Year. Gibson's stepfather is Randy White who played basketball at Louisiana Tech and was the eighth overall draft pick by the Dallas Mavericks in 1989.

LEAH LABOY | SETTER | 5-8 | SAN RAFAEL, CALIF.

Leah LaBoy joins the Sooners from Utah State University and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. LaBoy appeared in all 33 matches for the Aggies, making 30 starts as a freshman. She led the Aggies with 685 assists and logged at least 20 assists in 21 matches, including a season-high 37 against UNLV. She finished fourth on the team with 204 digs and recorded eight double-doubles. She notched 42 kills and 27 service aces in her lone season with the Aggies.

"In watching Leah play and talking to many of her coaches, it was clear how competitive she is and how dedicated she is to her craft," Mansfield said. "Leah comes to us from a very successful first two years at Utah State, where helped lead her team to back-to-back NCAA appearances. Bringing in a setter with Leah's experience, matched with her drive and commitment to developing personally and athletically, was exactly what our program needed to continue to prepare for the SEC."

Prior to Utah State, LaBoy led Marin Catholic High School to a North Coast Section title and seventh-consecutive state title. Her high school earned Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) titles and three North Coast Section championships, along with finishing as the runner-up at the 2019 CIF Open Division state finals. She earned individual recognition with first-team MCAL accolades in 2019, as well as being named the 2019 Stockton Classic MVP. LaBoy was also the 2022 MCAL Player of the Year and was recognized as a member of the 2020 AVCA Phenom List and named to various all-tournament teams throughout her career. She was a four-year member of the National Honor Society, along with earning a Superior Academic Achievement Award for the Class of 2022.

"I chose OU because after visiting, I fell in love with the campus, coaches, players, and the undeniable school spirit," LaBoy said. "By choosing OU, I have the opportunity to compete at the highest level in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. I am so excited to learn, grow, and embody what it means to be a Sooner!"

A native of San Rafael, Calif., LaBoy is the daughter of CJ and Melissa LaBoy and has two siblings. Her mother, Melissa, played volleyball for the Aggies in 2001 and her uncle, Travis, was a member of the USU football team in 2000.