Arizona volleyball adds transfer MB Kristen Dear from Howard

STANFORD, CA - DECEMBER 06: Arizona Wildcats head coach Charita Stubbs talks to the team in a huddle during a second round match against the Stanford Cardinal in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament on December 6, 2025 at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The spring volleyball portal window has been kind to the Arizona Wildcats. While the team lost two to the late portal, they have added two in the past several days and there are indications that a third is on the way.

The Wildcats announced the signing of former San Diego opposite Kennedy Osunsanmi on May 7. Now, former Howard middle blocker Kristen Dear has announced her verbal commitment to the program.

Dear will come to Tucson after one year at Howard. The native of Carson, Calif. returns to the West where she starred for Long Beach Poly.

During her freshman season with the Bison, the 6-foot-1 middle appeared in 56 sets across 19 matches. She averaged 2.32 kills per set on .443 hitting. She also contributed 0.86 blocks per set for a total of 2.79 points per set.

Her kills per set tied for second for the Bison. Her blocks per set were third on the team, as were her points per set.

The Bison went 18-11 overall and 10-4 in the league during Dear’s only year with the program. Their season ended in the MEAC Tournament championship match where they fell 3-1 to top-seeded Coppin State.

The additions of Osunsanmi and Dear give the Wildcats 14 players for 2026, but there is another unannounced verbal. Rumors have it that the unannounced player is an outside hitter.

The Wildcats have yet to add former Notre Dame setter Harmony Sample to the online roster, but her signing was announced on Apr. 15. The roster also does not include the freshmen who didn’t enroll early or Osunsanmi.