Villanova Univeristy Athletics

2025: Played in every match as Villanova's primary libero in her freshman season … Accumulated 129 digs, 53 assists and 12 aces in 106 total sets … Made her collegiate debut with a trio of digs against Santa Clara … Totaled season-best three aces against Fairfield … Put up first double-digit dig effort with 10 opposite Wichita State … Led the team in digs with a career-best 13 at Creighton … Tallied her season-high five assists against UConn … Posted three or more digs in 24 different matches.

Benet Academy: Played three years of varsity volleyball, completing her career with a combined record of 111-7 … Team finished as the state runner up three times … Won team's Sportsmanship Award as a senior … Played club with Sky High Volleyball club, placing fifth at the 2024 Sunshine Qualifier … Named to AVCA Phenom and JVA Girls watch lists … Also played three years of softball in addition to freshman basketball … Member of the National Honors Society … Earned AP Scholar with Honor and Highest Distinction of Academic Honor Roll six times … Named an AAU Academic All-American in 2022.

Personal: Born 7/10/06 … One of two children of CJ and Mary Catherine … Has one brother, Matthew … Aunt Patricia Dart played volleyball at Wichita State and pair of uncles, Peter (Northern Illinois) and Brian McAdams (UW-Stevens Point) played college football … Plans to major in civil engineering … Chose to attend Villanova because of "the commitment to academic excellence, superb athletics and strong Catholic faith."

Steinbach on Ritterbusch: "Marikate is a really nice defender coming from a good club and high school program where she's been playing at a really high level. She'll give us added depth at defensive specialist and her serve receive skills are excellent so I'm hopeful that she can impact our gym immediately."