Perla Escobar is a proud alumna of Hawaii Pacific University, where she played from 2016 to 2019. Her collegiate career was marked by several notable achievements, including being named Freshman of the Week during her preseason and earning Third Team All-PacWest honors in her sophomore year, followed by First Team All-PacWest in her senior year.
In her senior season, Perla's exceptional performance helped lead HPU to a 15-7 PacWest record, the best since 2005. She was recognized on the D2CCA All-West Region Second Team after ranking second in the PacWest with 374 kills and leading the conference with a 3.67 kills per set average. Additionally, she accumulated over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs throughout her career at HPU.
Before her time at HPU, Perla represented Mexico at the U18 World Championship in Thailand, showcasing her international experience and dedication to the sport. She also had an impressive high school career at Calexico High School, where she tallied 1,049 kills in just her junior and senior year, averaging 6.9 kills per set . Her senior year, she led California in kills per set, catching the attention of Sports Illustrated, which featured her in their "Faces in the Crowd" segment.
Now a fourth-year teacher, Perla is passionate about giving back to HPU as a former player and alumna. She is happily married to Gerrit Arzberger, a former HPU soccer player who also left a significan legacy, earning multiple First Team All-PacWest awards. Perla hopes to inspire and help develop the next generation of athletes.
Coach Jenic comments on Perla joining HPU - "Perla Escobar's experience as an alumna and her competitive spirit will undoubtedly inspire and elevate our indoor and beach volleyball programs.  Her deep connection to the program and understanding the team's culture are assets that can greatly enhance our athlete' development and overall performance.  Exciting times ahead for both programs."
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