Junior Gaige Gabriel was selected as one of 18 players nationally to make the roster for USA Volleyball for the 2023 NORCECA Continental USA U19 National Team. He'll head to California this weekend to train at USA Volleyball's Anaheim National Team Training Center, where, at the end of next week, he'll find out if he's been selected to make the traveling 12-man roster to represent the United States. If selected, he'll compete with players from around the world as the US team travels to Guatemala City to compete on March 11-19 in the 2023 NORCECA Boys U19 Continental Championship. The NORCECA is a required event prior to the World Championships being held in Argentina in August.

Gabriel, who announced his commitment to play volleyball at Penn State in December, plays for Exeter as well as the Yorktowne Volleyball Club, and was selected for the 2021 and 2022 BCIAA boys' volleyball all-star team as well as the 2022 District III All States. Standing at an impressive 6'8," Gabriel's been playing the sport since seventh grade when he was recruited to play thanks to his height. In a short amount of time, however, he's proven he's more than just a tall kid, rising from a locally-known to national player with more than ten Division I offers to play volleyball after he graduates from Exeter in 2024. Humble about his success, Gaige said he was honored to have been selected: "I was so excited when I found out. Nothing could kill my mood for the next week."

Gabriel is the second player in Exeter history have been chosen for this national honor with the last player, Pieter Olree, being selected in the late 90s. Orlee went on to play volleyball professionally after his graduation from Ohio State.