2019 Volleyball Roster
Whipple, Rachel
vs
Arkansas
Sep 12 (Fri)
6 PM
Jersey Number 12
Rachel Whipple
- Position:
- Defensive Specialist/Libero
- Height:
- 5-7
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Centennial, Colo.
- High School:
- Smoky Hill
Bio
2019 (Senior):
Started every match at libero for Colorado ... Recorded 13 digs in the season-opener against Wyoming ... Had 19 digs in three sets (6.33 per set) against UMBC ... Posted back-to-back 20 dig performances at Oregon state (9/27) and at Arizona State (10/04) ... Had an amazing 25 digs at No. 15 Cal (10/20) then posted 24 against Arizona (11/01) ... Closed the season with a 10-match streak of double digit digs, including a career-best 28 at Washington State ... Finished the season with 417 digs ... Named to the Pac-12 Academic honor roll ... Was named the team defensive MVP ... Graduated with a degree in integrative physiology in May 2020.
2018 (Junior):
Whipple had a standout junior season, starting and playing in every set and match for the Buffaloes. She won the libero roll and never turned back, racking up 419 total digs for the ninth-best season in school history. She is now 39th in school history in career digs. Whipple battled for the starting roll early in the season, but after winning it she took off in the Pac-12 season with six matches of 20 or more digs. She set a career-high against Washington State (10/26) with 26. Whipple finished the season with four matches of 20+ digs in five matches, including 22 against South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Whipple’s season continued into the spring and beyond, being named to the USAVB Collegiate National Team for the training program in Anaheim in the summer.
2017 (Sophomore):
Whipple saw action in 31 matches for the Buff’s during her sophomore campaign. She has developed into a dependable backrow and serving specialist for the Buffs. Whipple recorded a career-high eight digs on two separate occasions, the first coming in the team’s season opening win over Northwestern State (8/25). The next came in her outstanding performance against Oregon State (9/29), where the sophomore also recorded a career-high of two assists. Whipple recorded the sixth most aces on the team (6). She tallied three in the team’s 3-1 win over Oklahoma in the Nike Invitational (8/27). Also an outstanding student, Whipple was awarded Academic All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
2016 (Freshman):
Whipple saw limited action as a freshman, playing in five matches for the Buffs. She debuted for CU against UC Irvine (9/10) and recorded her first dig for the Buffs against Chicago State (9/16). She picked up two digs in that match and followed it up with three digs against New Orleans (9/17). Whipple played in eight sets and recorded five digs during the season.
High School
Whipple was a three-time team captain at Smoky Hill and earned four varsity letters on the volleyball team. A defensive specialist, she recorded 445 digs, 393 serve receptions, 46 aces and 34 kills as a senior. As a junior, she tallied 408 digs, 559 serve receptions, 19 aces and 18 kills. Whipple also had impressive stats as a sophomore, recording 413 digs, 590 serve receptions, seven aces and 22 kills. She led Colorado Class 5A in digs per set her senior (6.18), junior (5.23) and sophomore (5.66) seasons.
A two-time All-Centennial League First Team selection as a senior and junior, Whipple also earned second team honors during her sophomore campaign. She was named to the Denver Post All-Colorado Team as an honorable mention honoree in 2014 as well. Whipple also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honorable mention status twice (2014 and ’15).
Her club team was the 2014 Far Western 16 USA Champions. They were a three-time national qualifier and recorded top five finishes at Colorado Crossroads and the Disney Showcase in 2015.
A multi-sport athlete at Smoky Hill, Whipple also earned letters in soccer and swimming.
Whipple was also recruited by Denver, Virginia Commonwealth and Gonzaga. She decided on Colorado because she dreamed of playing a collegiate sport and representing her home state.
Personal
Rachel Christine Whipple was born on April 20, 1998. She is the daughter of Paul and Julie Whipple and has one brother, Chris. She enjoys baking and volunteering with the Special Olympics.
Academics
Whipple is an integrative physiology major and a leadership studies minor with a GPA greater than 3.40.
Mahoney on Whipple
“Whip has improved her athleticism and her game immensely this past spring. Already a gritty defender, she has gotten better in the passing lanes as well. We expect her to contribute on the floor this season.”
Started every match at libero for Colorado ... Recorded 13 digs in the season-opener against Wyoming ... Had 19 digs in three sets (6.33 per set) against UMBC ... Posted back-to-back 20 dig performances at Oregon state (9/27) and at Arizona State (10/04) ... Had an amazing 25 digs at No. 15 Cal (10/20) then posted 24 against Arizona (11/01) ... Closed the season with a 10-match streak of double digit digs, including a career-best 28 at Washington State ... Finished the season with 417 digs ... Named to the Pac-12 Academic honor roll ... Was named the team defensive MVP ... Graduated with a degree in integrative physiology in May 2020.
2018 (Junior):
Whipple had a standout junior season, starting and playing in every set and match for the Buffaloes. She won the libero roll and never turned back, racking up 419 total digs for the ninth-best season in school history. She is now 39th in school history in career digs. Whipple battled for the starting roll early in the season, but after winning it she took off in the Pac-12 season with six matches of 20 or more digs. She set a career-high against Washington State (10/26) with 26. Whipple finished the season with four matches of 20+ digs in five matches, including 22 against South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Whipple’s season continued into the spring and beyond, being named to the USAVB Collegiate National Team for the training program in Anaheim in the summer.
2017 (Sophomore):
Whipple saw action in 31 matches for the Buff’s during her sophomore campaign. She has developed into a dependable backrow and serving specialist for the Buffs. Whipple recorded a career-high eight digs on two separate occasions, the first coming in the team’s season opening win over Northwestern State (8/25). The next came in her outstanding performance against Oregon State (9/29), where the sophomore also recorded a career-high of two assists. Whipple recorded the sixth most aces on the team (6). She tallied three in the team’s 3-1 win over Oklahoma in the Nike Invitational (8/27). Also an outstanding student, Whipple was awarded Academic All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
2016 (Freshman):
Whipple saw limited action as a freshman, playing in five matches for the Buffs. She debuted for CU against UC Irvine (9/10) and recorded her first dig for the Buffs against Chicago State (9/16). She picked up two digs in that match and followed it up with three digs against New Orleans (9/17). Whipple played in eight sets and recorded five digs during the season.
High School
Whipple was a three-time team captain at Smoky Hill and earned four varsity letters on the volleyball team. A defensive specialist, she recorded 445 digs, 393 serve receptions, 46 aces and 34 kills as a senior. As a junior, she tallied 408 digs, 559 serve receptions, 19 aces and 18 kills. Whipple also had impressive stats as a sophomore, recording 413 digs, 590 serve receptions, seven aces and 22 kills. She led Colorado Class 5A in digs per set her senior (6.18), junior (5.23) and sophomore (5.66) seasons.
A two-time All-Centennial League First Team selection as a senior and junior, Whipple also earned second team honors during her sophomore campaign. She was named to the Denver Post All-Colorado Team as an honorable mention honoree in 2014 as well. Whipple also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honorable mention status twice (2014 and ’15).
Her club team was the 2014 Far Western 16 USA Champions. They were a three-time national qualifier and recorded top five finishes at Colorado Crossroads and the Disney Showcase in 2015.
A multi-sport athlete at Smoky Hill, Whipple also earned letters in soccer and swimming.
Whipple was also recruited by Denver, Virginia Commonwealth and Gonzaga. She decided on Colorado because she dreamed of playing a collegiate sport and representing her home state.
Personal
Rachel Christine Whipple was born on April 20, 1998. She is the daughter of Paul and Julie Whipple and has one brother, Chris. She enjoys baking and volunteering with the Special Olympics.
Academics
Whipple is an integrative physiology major and a leadership studies minor with a GPA greater than 3.40.
Mahoney on Whipple
“Whip has improved her athleticism and her game immensely this past spring. Already a gritty defender, she has gotten better in the passing lanes as well. We expect her to contribute on the floor this season.”
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