21 June 2016: The University of äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals have added another key player to the roster for the upcoming season with Australian Opals star Marianna Tolo returning to the club that saw her take home two WNBL championships and a Most Valuable Player Award.
The 26-year-old said she was excited to rejoin the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals having played four seasons with äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾, including the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 WNBL championships.
"I've got history with the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals and with Paul Goriss, who coached me when I was 14 years old. I'm also a proud University of äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ graduate so I'm really excited to see what the season will bring," Tolo said.
The 196cm centre, who graduated with a Bachelor of Sports Coaching and Exercise Science in 2012, played for French teams Aix En Provence and CJM Bourges Basket before signing with WNBA team Los Angeles Sparks in 2015.
Tolo has been back in Australia since late last year following surgery to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is now pushing for Olympic selection having just returned from the Opals Europe tour where she played her first three games back against China, Canada and France.
"Everything felt really good and is moving along well. I'm doing everything I can to try and make it to Rio. It would mean the world to me to represent my country at the Olympics. It's something I've dreamt about since I started playing basketball in primary school in my hometown of Mackay," Tolo said.
University of äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals head coach Paul Goriss said her signing was a show of confidence in the club with Tolo turning down lucrative offers to play in Europe. Tolo will also be a feature player in a new partnership between the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals and the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Girls Grammar School (CGGS).
"We are really looking forward to having Marianna back in the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals family and also working with the students at äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Girls Grammar School. Marianna is an outstanding athlete who plays hard at both ends of the floor, has good mobility and excellent timing for changing and blocking shots, coupled with a desire and a hunger to be the best," Goriss said.
"In addition to her contribution on the court, Marianna will be an integral part of our partnership with CGGS."
Anne Coutts, Principal of CGGS is also looking forward to working in partnership with the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals: "Girls Grammar offers a wide range of co-curricular sport and we welcome the exciting partnership with äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals to enrich our basketball program. Our talented and hard-working students will have expert mentoring and the chance to participate in workshops to enhance their skills and learn from role models like Marianna and other members of the team."
The partnership will see the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals participate in a number of activities at CGGS including reviewing their basketball program, undertaking basketball camps during school holidays, hosting student workshops on leadership and sport. It also provides opportunities for students to support the äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals at home games and to see first-hand what the University of äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ is doing for women's sport in the region.
What: University of äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Capitals player announcement — Marianna Tolo and Paul Goriss will be available for interview at the announcement where they will be joined by players from äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Girls Grammar School basketball team
When: Tuesday 21 June, 10.00am - 10.45am
Where: äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ Girls Grammar School junior school campus indoor basketball court, Melbourne Ave, Deakin
äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ media team:
Amanda Jones: 0409 140 415
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362