A key piece of the Roadrunners' success on both hardwood and sand is headed to the desert heat of Arizona.

College of the Desert Women's Volleyball standout Bella Branconier, a dynamic two-sport athlete from Xavier College Prep in Palm Desert, has officially signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic journey at Benedictine University Mesa, an NAIA program competing in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC).

PHOTOS! Can be found HERE! 

"I'm so excited for this next chapter at Benedictine Mesa," Branconier shared. "I've loved every moment at COD and am grateful for the teammates and coaches who helped me grow as both a player and person."

Making Her Mark Indoors and on the Sand

Branconier has been a steady presence and impact player in the Roadrunners lineup since day one, competing at a high level in both indoor volleyball and beach volleyball. As a sophomore, she elevated her game to earn Second Team All-IEAC honors, a step up from her Honorable Mention selection in 2023.

She started 21 of 22 matches in 2024 and made her mark across multiple statistical categories in IEAC conference play:

• 4th in solo blocks (12)

• 7th in block assists (29)

• 10th in service aces (33)

• 12th in kills (105)

Her most dominant match came on October 16 at Copper Mountain, where she posted 11 kills, multiple service aces, and 5 digs in a Roadrunner sweep of the Fighting Cacti.

On the sand, Branconier teamed up with fellow signee Stacie Alexander on the 1's court. The duo earned Honorable Mention All-South Coast Conference recognition for their chemistry and grit on the beach.

Consistency from the Start

In her freshman season, Branconier was a breakout star, finishing 5th in the conference in total kills (209) and leading COD in total points (233.5) and points per set (3.1). She logged a personal-best 19 kills against San Diego Miramar and was named Athlete of the Month in August 2023.

"Bella is a gamer," said head coach Detlev Rothe. "She's put in the work year-round, from the weight room to the sand, and she's constantly raised the bar for herself. BenU Mesa is getting an incredibly well-rounded player with a team-first mindset."

About Benedictine University Mesa

Located in Mesa, Arizona, just 15 miles east of Phoenix, BenU Mesa is a competitive force in the NAIA's Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC). Under the leadership of first-year head coach Madison Kindle, the Redhawks finished the 2024 season with a 21-8 overall record, an 11-3 mark in conference play, and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

The Redhawks play their home matches at the BenU Physical Education Center (PEC) and continue to rise as a top-tier NAIA program.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photos provided courtesy of COD Women's Volleyball head coach, Detlev Rothe.