Transfer Smith Added To Volleyball Roster
3/11/2014 2:09:00 PM | Volleyball
Former Georgia Bulldog Stacey Smith will finish her collegiate career with Syracuse in 2014
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – University of Georgia transfer Stacey Smith will finish her collegiate career at Syracuse, head coach Leonid Yelin announced on Tuesday, March 11.
"When Stacey came up on the volleyball market I found out from my colleagues who I can trust, and talked to coaches, and they all describe her as a very good person," said Yelin. "One of my former assistant coaches (Rick Nold) who is the head coach at Auburn said she is a kid who is definitely going to help. She has good size and is a good blocker. She's a great student. Overall when we look at it we can't go wrong with Stacey."
The decision to transfer to Syracuse for Smith is a homecoming of sorts, having grown up in the Buffalo suburb of Eden. Smith was a standout volleyball player at Eden High School, helping her squad to a 36-1 record as a senior. That season Smith garnered All-American status and was an ESPN RISE Fab50 selection before enrolling at Georgia.
With the Bulldogs, Smith redshirted her freshman year and played sparingly throughout the next two seasons – participating in a total of 13 matches. In her final campaign in Athens, Smith started all 32 matches and played in all 119 sets. She ranked fourth on the team in kills per set (2.29) and was third in blocks per set (0.63) and hitting percentage (.282). Smith recorded double-digit kills in 14 matches while hitting above .300 in 16 matches in 2013. Against LSU on Sept. 27, the right-side hitter posted career bests of 19 kills and five blocks.
"When Stacey came up on the volleyball market I found out from my colleagues who I can trust, and talked to coaches, and they all describe her as a very good person," said Yelin. "One of my former assistant coaches (Rick Nold) who is the head coach at Auburn said she is a kid who is definitely going to help. She has good size and is a good blocker. She's a great student. Overall when we look at it we can't go wrong with Stacey."
The decision to transfer to Syracuse for Smith is a homecoming of sorts, having grown up in the Buffalo suburb of Eden. Smith was a standout volleyball player at Eden High School, helping her squad to a 36-1 record as a senior. That season Smith garnered All-American status and was an ESPN RISE Fab50 selection before enrolling at Georgia.
With the Bulldogs, Smith redshirted her freshman year and played sparingly throughout the next two seasons – participating in a total of 13 matches. In her final campaign in Athens, Smith started all 32 matches and played in all 119 sets. She ranked fourth on the team in kills per set (2.29) and was third in blocks per set (0.63) and hitting percentage (.282). Smith recorded double-digit kills in 14 matches while hitting above .300 in 16 matches in 2013. Against LSU on Sept. 27, the right-side hitter posted career bests of 19 kills and five blocks.
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