DENVER  – Former University of Denver volleyball standouts Cassie Baird and Becca Latham have signed professional contracts to continue their respective professional careers overseas. Baird has signed to play in Finland while Latham will continue her career in Korea.

"I am very proud of Cassie and Becca to be able to continue their professional careers overseas," head coach Tom Hogan said. "It's exciting to continue to see our former players playing more and more overseas. Our program and systems here at Denver allows for our players to be developed and prepared to make the transition from college to the pro ranks seamlessly once they graduate. These two women's success now is a culmination of their dedication to hard work, investing in the program here at DU, themselves and dream of pursuing a professional career."

Baird signed with LP Vampula in Huittinen, Finland, in the top league. Now entering her fourth season professionally, the former Pioneer recently finished up at KP Brno in the Czech Republic, taking sixth place despite being the youngest team in the league. She also has played in Portugal and in Switzerland in her first two years in her professional career.

"DU was instrumental in giving me the tools to be able to play my now fourth season abroad," Baird said. "The coaching by the staff does a great job of preparing us players both physically and mentally for the challenges of playing overseas. The international style of play ran at DU makes the transition to professional volleyball that much easier.

"The challenging practices and situations help to mentally develop us as players and people. I am forever grateful to how the University of Denver helped to shape me into the person and player I am today because without DUVB, I do not know if I would have had the success I've had playing overseas so far."

Latham signed with IBK Altos in the top league in Korea, where the team is coming off a playoff appearance in 2020-21. She spent the past two seasons playing for Futura Volley Giovani in Busto Arisizio, Italy in the series A2.

"DU volleyball definitely helped shape me into the player I am now," Latham said. "My first two seasons took a lot of adjusting because everything was new to me, but the DU coaching staff mentally and physically, prepared me for overseas and I'm very grateful for that.
 
"Not only did they prepare me for overseas, they also worked hard to help me start my professional career at a high level. I can't express enough how grateful I am to have had such a great support system behind me after graduating from DU." 
 
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