DES MOINES, IOWA – Drake head volleyball coach Darrin McBroom has announced the signing of Wisconsin native Karissa Fortune to the Bulldogs' recruiting class of 2023.
 
Karissa, or KC, hails from Appleton, Wis. where she has enjoyed incredible success in both her high school and AAU careers. The 6-2 outside hitter has been a star for Appleton North High School with numerous awards and accomplishments. She earned a varsity letter all four years of high school while also being named a unanimous First-Team All-Conference player as a senior after earning Second-Team and Honorable Mention status in previous years. Fortune was also selected as an All-State performer, First-Team AVCA All-American, and named to the Fox Valley Area Pre-Season Terrific Ten Team.
 
Fortune led the Lightning to four-straight Wisconsin state tournaments including a quarterfinal and semifinal appearance, a runner-up finish, and an undefeated season and state championship as a sophomore.
 
During her senior season, KC enjoyed one of the most prolific campaigns in the state of Wisconsin with 346 kills and 226 digs.
 
As a member of the Milwaukee Sting AAU program, Fortune gained valuable experience as by winning the 2022 USAV National Division Championship.
 
KC's athletic lineage can be traced throughout her family as her father, Scott, played Division III basketball at Ripon College in Wisconsin. Fortune's sisters, Abby and Christy, are also Division II collegiate athletes on the Northern Michigan University volleyball team and McKendree University women's basketball team, respectively.
 
Drake's newest signee is also a standout in the classroom with Honor Roll recognition every semester at Appleton North. KC plans to study kinesiology at Drake and pursue a career as a physical therapist. She also enjoys hiking, reading, swimming, and playing golf.
 
When asked about why she chose Drake, Fortune stated, "I loved the location, the community feel [around campus], the volleyball team and coaching staff, the conference [Drake] plays in, and of course, the strong academics."
 
"We are so excited to welcome KC Fortune into the Bulldog program," Coach McBroom said. "I think she is going to be a great fit and a key part of our success as we build our program forward. KC is a very strong athlete, but she also possesses the enthusiasm and character we look for in athletes. She visited Drake and knew pretty quickly that this was the place for her…and that is exciting."
 
"She certainly stood out on the court when I first saw her playing with her club team at the 2021 Junior Nationals," McBroom continued. "She is a physical athlete with a strong arm…I think she will be competitive in our gym upon arrival but also has the work ethic to grow her game. She's full of questions about how she can get better, and that's the kind of attitude we want."