Key Returners – Outside Hitters

This is the fourth and last of my articles on the key returners to the West Region and today I focus on the outside hitters. You can find my first article on the setters/right sides here, my second on liberos hereand my third on middles here. As a reminder, my process remains the same in that I scoured the 2018 Awards page for non-seniors and then reviewed the NCAA statistical leaders for anyone I may have missed. Note that in some cases what the NCAA has for statistics differs from what the schools have on their sites. There were a few key returners that I don’t list simply because I’ve learned they will not be returning to their school. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to catch all of these instances but I did the best I could. I also guarantee that I overlooked some players and for that I apologize; my system, like myself, is imperfect. Without further ado, here are your key returning outside hitters.

Haley Celaya (La Verne – Outside Hitter – Sophomore)

Haley Celaya was a 2^nd Team SCAIC All-Conference 6-rotation outside in 2018. Celaya was relied on a lot as a freshman getting 800 swings while racking up 342 points. It’s not going to surprise me if those totals hit 1,000+ and 400+ in 2019 with the graduation of Kelsie Sievers and Katelyn Winiecki. That’s 700 points that the Leopards have to find a replacement for and Celaya can help but more will be needed from others. La Verne is always one of the top teams in the SCIAC (only to be snubbed by the NCAA at selection time) but Celaya and the Leopards will have their work cut out for them this season.

Kianna Crow (LeTourneau – Outside Hitter – Sophomore)

Kianna Crow received the ASC East Division Freshman of the Year but was really overlooked for how much the Yellowjackets relied on her and how often she came through for them. The 6-rotation outside took 1,124 swings last season second in the region to only Southwestern’s Jamison Duck (good for 53^rd nationally). Crow was first in the region in Attacks/Set (20^th nationally) and second in the region in Kills/Set (65^th nationally). Crow finished with 349 kills good for 110^th nationally and will be the leading Points/Set player returning after finishing behind Whitworth’s graduating senior Jessica Schmautz. The Yellowjackets’ roster is interesting because they are returning most of their talent but, in addition, over half will be new faces to the program. Crow probably can’t do more than she did as a freshman so the success of the team probably comes down to how much production will come from others.

Alyssa Davis (Centenary – Outside Hitter – Sophomore)

Alyssa Davis hit the ground running as a freshman finishing with 383 points and 149 digs playing 6-rotations. She would finish nationally 247^th in Kills/Set, 125^th in Total Attacks and 103^rd in Total Kills as she was the first option for the Ladies in 2018. There’s going to be some turnover this year (including the coach) but the outsides seem set with freshmen Davis and Lauren Kelley leading the way. Centenary enjoyed one of their best seasons ever in 2018 and for them to repeat expect a lot of balls set to the pins in 2019.

Jenna Gillean (UMHB – Outside Hitter – Senior)

When doing my year-end awards in 2018 I really missed on two players – Cal Lutheran Maci Haddad and Jenna Gillean. In my defense with Gillean, the Crusaders were just loaded and I remember going back and forth on Gillean and her teammate Corinne Novak when both were equally great selections. I can’t go back and fix it but I can sing her praises here. Gillean was an Honorable Mention All-American and a West AVCA All-Region selection. She was also All-ASC and the ASC West Division MVP while racking up the points and playing 6 rotations. She finished 203^rd nationally in Attacks/Set, 219^th in Kills/Set, 233^rd in Points/Set and 78^th in Total Kills. She also finished 193^rd in Total Digs with 438. It’s rare for a team to have two 6-rotation outside hitters in DIII but the Cru have that luxury. Expect more of the same from Gillean in 2019 and if it happens then maybe…just maybe…I won’t forget about her at the end of the season.

Haley Harris (Colorado College – Outside Hitter – Senior)

Those longtime readers of the blog know that I’m a huge Haley Harris fan. I still remember her performance at the 2016 UT-Dallas Regional against CMS where this little DS starting hitting on the right side and was unstoppable. Harris followed that year up with a 310 point season and then a 398.5 point last year when she was moved into the OH1 position due to the Jordan Mullen injury. She was named to the All-SCAC team and made my D3VbWest All-Region team for her outstanding year as a 6-rotation outside. Nationally, she finished 197^th in Kills/Set, 236^th in Points/Set, 178^th in Total Attacks and 101^st in Total Kills. Mullen made it back by the end of the year but didn’t seem 100% (although she had a great match against Emory) so we’ll see how the coaching staff uses their two great outsides in 2019. If both play to their potential then a national championship run is very possible.

Jessi Lumsden (Chapman – Outside Hitter – Sophomore)

Jessi Lumsden was part of the best freshmen duo I saw in 2018 paired up with Sophie Srivastava. Lumsden was named All-SCIAC and Honorable Mention D3VbWest All-Region for her great season that included 372 points. Nationally, she was 174^th in Attacks/Set, 108^th in Kills/Set, 125^th in Points/Set and 145^th in Total Kills. Lumsden is a 6-rotation player and it’s just scary to think what she’ll accomplish in the next three-years. Chapman lost a number of really good players to graduation but with Srivastava and Lumsden returning as their top hitters they are poised to have another great run at the SCIAC title.

Tristyn Massey (Concordia – Outside Hitter – Senior)

Tristyn Massey was a junior transfer last season and immediately became the Tornados best outside option playing all 6 rotations. She was named ASC All-Conference while putting up a 375.5 point season. Massey finished 209^th nationally in Points/Set, 226^th in Total Attacks and 200^th in Total Kills. Concordia was going to be a dark horse for me this year but they ended up losing some underclassmen that I didn’t expect. That means Massey will be relied on even more in her senior year to not only lead the attack but also bring along their 9 recruits quickly and get them producing.

Corinne Novak (UMHB – Outside Hitter – Junior)

Here is Jenna Gillean’s partner in crime as they form the most lethal outside hitter duo in the West Region. It’s really funny how close they are in statistics and nationally Novak finished 196^th in Attacks/Set, 171^st in Kills/Set, 232^nd in Points/Set, 55^th in Total Attacks and 58^th in Total Kills (383). Those 383 kills put Novak 3^rd in the West Region. She’s another 6-rotation player and has the honor of being the last UMHB I’m going to write about in this series of articles because I did them all. Yes, the Cru are loaded for a run in 2019 with really the only unknown being their new coach (Mark Pryor). I reached out to him on a question and in his response he modestly mentioned that he really didn’t know how this was going to go. I didn’t reply to that but I will now…you are going to have a lot of fun and you are going to enjoy a lot of wins.

Claire Okerlund (UC Santa Cruz – Outside Hitter – Junior)

Claire Okerlund was named to the Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) First-Team after finishing with a 320 point season. Nationally, Okerlund finished 188^th in Attacks/Set and 223^rd in Points/Set as she was the primary option for the Banana Slugs. Okerlund was a 6-rotation outside that also finished 192 digs on the year. Santa Cruz has a good core returning and will be looking to secure a Pool B bid to the NCAA Tournament. For this to happen, expect even more from Okerlund in 2019.

Brooke Paxton (JWU – Outside Hitter – Senior)

It is hard being in DIII purgatory as JWU is as they reclassify for another 3-years. It’s especially hard your first two years in DIII because your record and statistics don’t count. You are not even eligible for awards or tournament play. So, in a very real sense, Brooke Paxton doesn’t exist. Her 286 points on 953 swings and 295 digs didn’t happen. She won’t exist in 2019 as she again leads her team to hopefully more mythical wins. Paxton’s performance is worthy of honors and the least we can do is appreciate her hard work and know that she is laying the foundation for others to come behind her.

Paola Salas Adorno (Louisiana College – Outside Hitter – Senior)

Paola Salas Adorno was a junior transfer that after just one season already finds her name all over this young program’s record book. She was the main option for the Wildcats finishing 250^th nationally in Attacks/Set and 120^th in Kills/Set. This 6-rotation outside would also go on to finish with 3.69 Points/Set, which was good for 153^rd nationally. For her efforts, she was named the ASC East Division Newcomer of the Year. The Wildcats being such a young program pretty much set records every time they play and the continued success of Salas Adorno should translate to team records in wins and conference wins in 2019.

Laney Swan (Colorado College –Outside Hitter/Right Side – Junior)

I believe Laney Swan will return with the highest Hitting Percentage of any West Region player that didn’t see time at middle. More of a part-time player when the season started she saw more action when Jordan Mullen couldn’t return to the court until late in the season. With her returning we could see Swan on the right side more in 2019 but it seems her coach (who doubles as her father) will want to get one of the West Region’s most efficient hitters in the lineup somewhere.

Jillian Via (UT-Dallas – Outside Hitter – Senior)

Another 6-rotation outside that received a ton more opportunities last season and really shined. Via improved her hitting percentage almost 50 percentage points while finishing with 303.5 points and 314 digs. Via was named ASC All-Conference and expect more awards this season as she may be asked to do even more. The Comets look to be losing close to 800 points of offense this season so their second leading hitter better have that shoulder ready for even more swings once the season starts. Lots of really good returners for the Comets but there are holes to fill and how well they do this will determine how far they can go this year.