BVB | Helmi Rantala Adds International Flare to the Gaels 2027 Roster
9/15/2026 11:26:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. – Coming all the way from Finland to Moraga to join the Saint Mary's Beach Volleyball roster for 2027 is Helmi Rantala. Rantala will be the second international Gael on this year's roster, joining sophomore Zoe DiRisio.
About her latest addition, Head Coach Janice Harrer noted:
"Helmi is a really exciting addition to our program. Her international experience has given her a unique perspective on the game, and she comes in with a skill set that allows her to contribute in so many different ways. She is comfortable in every phase of the game and has a dynamic offensive game that will add another dimension to our team. We expect Helmi to challenge herself and those around her, and are excited to see the impact she will have on our incoming class."
While there are no club or high school beach volleyball programs in Finland, Rantala has won Finnish National tour events in 2024, a pair of bronze medals in the Finnish national finals in U18 age group in 2022 and 2023, and represented Finland in the U22 European Championships in 2026. Rantala is also the younger sister of Anna Rantala, who played collegiate volleyball at Georgia State.
On why she chose Saint Mary's, Rantala noted, "I chose Saint Mary's because of the great beach volleyball program, the coaches and the team spirit. Also, I liked the small size of the campus and the location."
Rantala will look to make her debut on US soil this upcoming Spring, as the Gaels look for a stellar encore to their record breaking 2025 campaign.
#GaelsRise
About her latest addition, Head Coach Janice Harrer noted:
"Helmi is a really exciting addition to our program. Her international experience has given her a unique perspective on the game, and she comes in with a skill set that allows her to contribute in so many different ways. She is comfortable in every phase of the game and has a dynamic offensive game that will add another dimension to our team. We expect Helmi to challenge herself and those around her, and are excited to see the impact she will have on our incoming class."
While there are no club or high school beach volleyball programs in Finland, Rantala has won Finnish National tour events in 2024, a pair of bronze medals in the Finnish national finals in U18 age group in 2022 and 2023, and represented Finland in the U22 European Championships in 2026. Rantala is also the younger sister of Anna Rantala, who played collegiate volleyball at Georgia State.
On why she chose Saint Mary's, Rantala noted, "I chose Saint Mary's because of the great beach volleyball program, the coaches and the team spirit. Also, I liked the small size of the campus and the location."
Rantala will look to make her debut on US soil this upcoming Spring, as the Gaels look for a stellar encore to their record breaking 2025 campaign.
#GaelsRise
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