THE FLATS – Georgia Tech volleyball and coach Michelle Collier announced the official signing of UCF transfer Tali Marmen to the program on Wednesday. The outside hitter will arrive on The Flats as a graduate transfer following her senior season as she helped propel the Knights to the 2021 American Athletic Conference Championship and the second round of the 2021 NCAA Volleyball Championship.
“We are looking forward to Tali’s immediate impact in our gym,” said Collier. “She has great experience and has been competing at a high level for a while now. She is a great teammate and will be a key addition to our team as we continue to compete for championships.”
The incoming Jacket was a key cog in UCF’s formidable attack a season ago, aiding the Knights to conference-leading marks in hitting percentage (14th in the NCAA), assists (eighth in the NCAA), kills and aces (both 12th in the NCAA). Individually, Marmen tallied 186 kills, 2.21 kills per set and 92 digs, all top-five marks on the squad. The Ariel, Israel, native also picked up 35 total blocks on the defensive side, ranking second on the squad in solo blocks (13) while adding 22 block assists. Her defensive acumen contributed to UCF’s conference leading numbers in total blocks (fifth in the NCAA), blocks per set (eighth in the NCAA) and opponent hitting percentage. An impressive outing against Cincinnati also resulted in a career high six solo blocks and total blocks. Academically, she was named to the dean’s list for the fall of 2021.
As a junior, Marmen played in 63 of 65 sets for UCF during the 2020-21 season. The future Yellow Jacket finished third on the team with 142 kills, averaging 2.25 kills per set. She hit .195 on 411 total attacks throughout the season, also racking up 17 aces from the service line. Defensively, Marmen added 100 digs and denied opposing offenses for 38 total blocks. She tied her career high of 17 kills against future in-conference opponent Florida State while setting career marks with eight aces and 13 digs in back-to-back matches against East Carolina.
Prior to her time at UCF, Marmen spent her first two collegiate seasons at Rutgers. As a sophomore with the Scarlet Knights, the Israeli outside hitter received the honor of being selected to the 2019 Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour in Japan. During the season, Marmen averaged 0.34 aces per set, ranking 11th in the Big Ten. Overall, she totaled a career high 209 kills, 149 digs and 58 total blocks (six solo, 52 assisted). In individual games, she set previous career-highs with both five service aces and five blocks in a win over future conference foe Virginia while tying her previous career high of 11 digs. Her five aces against the Cavaliers ranked second all-time in Rutgers history in four-set matches when achieved. Marmen’s other season highlights include logging 10 digs in a win over New Hampshire and 14 kills in a win over Northwestern. Academically, she received 2019 Academic All-Big Ten honors.
In her first season at the next level, Marmen piled up 165 kills on the season, including a career-high 17 kills against Indiana. She also hit the century mark with 100 digs on the season, notching a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs against Ohio State. To round out her double-digit kill performances, Marmen recorded 10 kills at Michigan State and 12 kills against the Spartans in a second meeting on the season.
Tali Marmen - UCF
Courtesy of UCF Athletics
Before joining the collegiate ranks, Marmen was a two-sport athlete, playing tennis and volleyball at Tichon Hof Hasharon in Israel. Marmen gained international experience before coming overseas to further her career, starting at outside hitter for the Israeli National Team. At the club level, she led Maccabi XT Haifa to the 2017-18 Israeli National Championship. At the 2018 CEV Volleyball Silver European League with Team Israel, Marmen ranked ninth in the league with 2.79 kills per set and 25th in the league with 46 points scored. She also placed second in the European League with a 33.7 percent perfect receptions rating.
Marmen becomes the second transfer and fourth offseason addition to Georgia Tech’s 2022 signing class. The veteran outside hitter joins all-American outside hitter Tamara Otene from Illinois State transferring in, along with incoming freshmen libero/defensive specialist Cara Bianco and right-side hitter/middle blocker Anna Boezi. The four future Jackets will join 13 returning current players, including five regular starters from last season’s Elite Eight squad.
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