NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Volleyball Head Coach Fred Chao announced the signing of two future Monarchs, Rita Benidio and Katie Rakoski, as part of his 2025 recruiting class on Monday.
"We’re excited to welcome Rita and Katie to the Monarch family. They will both add offensive firepower to the lineup, and will make an immediate impact," said Chao.
Rita Benidio | Outside Hitter | Porto, Portugal | Escola Secundaria Ines de Castro
An outside hitter from Porto, Portugal, Benidio placed third in the U16 National Championship with her club, Boavista Futebol Clube, during 2021-22. While playing for Colegio Efanor, she was a runner-up at the U21 National Championship and captured first place at the U19 National Championship in 2022-23, and she finished third in the U21 National Championship with Sporting Clube de Espinho in 2023-24.
Benidio has also competed in multiple WEVZA Championships with Portugal’s National Team (U16 in 2021; U21 and U17 in 2022; U17 in 2023; and U19 in 2024) and played in the CEV U18 Beach Volleyball European Championships back in July.
On Benidio, Chao commented, “Rita is an experienced and skilled outside. She is an exceptional passer and has developed a well-rounded attacking toolkit. She plays hard and fearlessly. Her national team experience will be a huge asset to the mentality and attitude of the team.”
Why ODU?
I chose Old Dominion University because of its strong academic programs and the exciting opportunity to play volleyball at a competitive level with a great scholarship, which made it the perfect fit for me. The university offers a great balance of academic and athletic opportunities, which will allow me to grow both as a student and an athlete.”
Katie Rakoski | Right Side Hitter | Dallas, Texas | Ursuline Academy of Dallas
A right side hitter from Dallas, Texas, Rakoski attends Ursuline Academy of Dallas and was an All-State Honorable Mention in 2023 after helping her team to a 25-9 record and a second-place finish in TAPPS 6A District 1 her junior year. As a senior, her squad went 27-15 overall and placed third in TAPPS 6A District 2 with Rakoski earning Second Team All-District and Academic All-State honors.
Rakoski also played club ball for MADFROG Volleyball’s 18 Green team. She placed second at Nationals in the 16’s USA Division in 2023, earning a spot on the Nationals All-Tournament Team, and her team finished third at the Northeast Qualifier in 2024.
“Katie is an explosive right side attacker,” Chao said of Rakoski. “She has a quick arm and good range. She has a physical presence at the net and is an effective blocker. She is an intense competitor who thrives on being relied on in critical situations.”
Why ODU?
“I chose ODU because I fell in love with the coaches and other girls on the team during my visit and I saw that they had a great team culture that I wanted to be a part of. ODU also equally values both the student and athlete in student-athlete, which is something I really appreciate and admire about the program.”