Arizona Volleyball Bolsters Future with High-Profile Commitments from Nylah Bibby and London Pope
Arizona volleyball fans have reason for optimism as head coach Rita Stubbs secured commitments from two promising athletes on Friday: Nylah Bibby and London Pope, both slated to join the Wildcats’ class of 2027. These additions signal a strategic focus on building a strong foundation for the program’s future.
Stubbs is actively addressing the team’s needs, particularly at the middle blocker position. The program has had roughly a 50% success rate in recruiting middle blockers through the transfer portal in recent years, and will welcome three this season, one fewer than Stubbs’ preferred number of four. However, the coach is also prioritizing the high school pipeline, recently adding Marina Vosloo to the 2026 class, with Pope set to follow in 2027.
Pope Brings Size and Potential to the Middle
London Pope, a 6-foot-2 athlete, represents a significant addition to the middle blocker position. Currently playing prep volleyball for V.R. Eaton High School in Fort Worth, Texas, Pope previously competed for TAV 15 Black before joining Dallas Premier 16 Black.
Over her first two years of high school competition, Pope has demonstrated consistent growth, appearing in 158 sets and averaging 1.3 kills per set with a career hitting percentage of .244. Her offensive output increased substantially between her freshman and sophomore seasons, jumping from 0.7 kills per set to 1.6. While her hitting percentage dipped slightly from .280 to .238 during that same period, her playing time increased significantly, from 50 sets as a freshman to 108 in 2024-25.
Pope has also shown consistency in her blocking game, improving from 0.6 blocks per set as a freshman to 0.7 as a sophomore, recording 75 total blocks with 16 solo blocks. She did accumulate 41 blocking errors in 108 sets last season, an area for potential development. Her performance earned her recognition from USA Volleyball, being named to the all-tournament team for the 16 Freedom group at the 2025 Girls Junior National Championship, where her team finished second. Fans can view highlights from her time with TAV on her [HUDL page](link to HUDL page), and more recent footage on her [Sports Recruits profile](link to Sports Recruits profile). Team highlights from Dallas Premier can be found on the club’s [Sports Recruits page](link to Dallas Premier Sports Recruits page).
Bibby’s Legacy and Versatility Add Intrigue
The name Nylah Bibby carries weight within Arizona athletics, as her father, Mike Bibby, was a key player on the Wildcats’ 1997 national championship-winning men’s basketball team. Bibby herself is a versatile athlete currently playing for Arizona Storm Elite, a program known for developing top volleyball talent in the state.
Bibby began her high school career at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale before transferring to Saguaro High before her sophomore year. While listed as an outside hitter and opposite on her club roster, she also identifies as a libero/defensive specialist, suggesting a multifaceted skillset. Given her height – listed between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 – some analysts believe a defensive role may be her most natural fit at the Power 4 level.
Bibby’s freshman season at Shadow Mountain showcased her potential, averaging 2.8 kills per set on a .156 hitting percentage across 82 sets. She also demonstrated a strong serving game, with 0.3 aces per set and an 8.7% ace rate. Her sophomore year at Saguaro saw further improvement, with her kills nearly doubling to 5.0 per set and her hitting percentage rising to .252. Her ace rate also increased to 14.7%, though her serve percentage dipped slightly to 86.6%. Defensively, she averaged 3.5 digs per set as a sophomore, a significant increase from her freshman year.
Adding to the family’s athletic pedigree, Bibby’s older sister, Janae Bibby, played NCAA volleyball for Fresno Pacific in 2019. Additional highlights of Nylah Bibby’s play can be found on her [HUDL profile](link to Bibby’s HUDL profile).
These commitments represent a significant step forward for the Arizona volleyball program, blending promising talent with a connection to the university’s storied athletic history.
