Following a trip to the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals, the King University women's volleyball team is looking to advance farther in 2019. Head coach Ryan Booher takes the reigns of a program that has eight seniors returning, including third team all-conference performer Tristyn Lozano. Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and first team all-conference selection Julie Ward highlights the returning core for the Tornado.
2018 Season Highlights
- Finished third in the Conference Carolinas North Division
- Advanced to the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball championship semifinals
- Led Conference Carolinas with 210 service aces and 2.04 aces per set
- The 2.04 aces per set was 11th in all of NCAA Division II
- Ranked eighth in the counrty and led Conference Carolinas, holding opponents to a .119 attack percentage
- Second in the league with a .177 attack percentage
TOP RETURNERS
OUTSIDE HITTERS
TRISTYN LOZANO
Sr. | 5-11 | OH/RS | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Third team All-Conference Carolinas selection in 2018
- 42nd in NCAA Division II and led Conference Carolinas with an average of 0.43 aces per set
- One of five Tornado to account for more than 100 kills
- Avraged 1.98 kills, 2.66 digs and 0.45 blocks per set
JULIE WARD
So. | 5-9 | OH | Berthoud, Colo.
- 2018 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year
- First team All-Conference Carolinas selection
- Led King with 14 double-doubles
- Second in the league with an average of 3.54 kills per set
- Attack percentage of .219 was ninth in the conference
- Averaged 3.53 digs and 0.31 blocks per set
REBEKAH HILL
Sr. | 5-9 | OH/DS | Harrison, Tenn.
- Made the transition from back row to outside hitter last season
- Finished fourth on the team with 175 kills for an average of 1.77 per set
- Added 216 digs for an average of 2.18 per set
- Posted 32 blocks and 27 aces
EMMA CARICO
Sr. | 5-10 | RS | Kingsport, Tenn.
- Made appearances in 25 sets, 12 matches, making one start
- Accounted for 42 kills and 13 digs
REMI THELE
Sr. | 6-0 | RS | Boca Raton, Fla.
- Appeared in 14 matches a season ago, making two starts
- Posted 59 kills for an average of 2.11 per set
- Added 14 digs and 14 blocks
CATHY SCANIFFE
r-Sr. | 5-9 | OH | Lorton, Va.
- Redshirted in 2018
- 2017 third team All-Conference Carolinas selection
- Career totals of 632 kills, 275 digs and 50 blocks
- Averages of 3.16 kills, 1.38 digs and 0.25 blocks per set
- Owns a career attack percentage of .172
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
KAYLEY HOLTZCLAW
Jr. | 6-2 | MB | Kingsport, Tenn.
- Third in the league with an average of 0.89 blocks per set
- Posted 84 total blocks, 13 solo stuffs
- 10th in Conference Carolinas with a .213 attack percentage
- Second on teh team with 199 kills
- In her career, averages 2.02 kills per set and owns a .186 attack percentage
- Has posted 98 career blocks for an average of 0.75 per set
GEORGIA DAVIS
So. | 5-10 | MB | Leland, N.C.
- Started 23 of the 25 matches she appeared in as a freshman
- Third on the team with an attack percentage of .202
- One of six to post more than 100 kills with 141
- Averaged 1.83 kills per set
- Second among Tornado with 51 blocks for an average of 0.66 blocks per set
VICTORIA GAUSE
Sr. | 5-9 | MB | Leesburg, Fla.
- Started five of the 10 matches she played in, appearing in 22 sets
- Accounted for 20 kills and 12 blocks
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
SYDNEY PIGAGE
Sr. | 5-4 | L | West Columbia, S.C.
- Started 27 matches at libero for the Tornado a season ago
- Led King wtih 428 digs, averaging 4.41 per set
- Ranked eighth in Conference Carolinas in total digs and fifth in average
- Added 29 aces
- Owns 839 career digs and 95 aces
CAITLYN CRAWFORD
So. | 5-4 | L/DS | Monroe, N.C.
- Played in 47 sets, 16 matches as a freshman, making four starts
- Posted 87 digs
- Added 10 aces
SETTER
BY THE NUMBERS
- 7 - King returns their top seven players in terms of kills
- 11 - matches with double digit service aces
- 13 - returners
- 80 - percent of aces returning from 2017
- 95 - percent of the offense returning
NEW FACES
HEAD COACH
Ryan Booher takes over as head coach of the women's program after leading the men's program the last 10 years. On the men's side, Booher is a three-time Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year and has led the Tornado to Conference Carolinas regular season titles each of the last three years. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience on the women's side, including 18 leading Northeast Tennessee Volleyball Club (NETVC)
2019 SCHEDULE HIGHILGHTS
Season Opener | September 6 vs. Carson-Newman University - 1:00 pm (Lincoln Memorial University - Harrogate, Tenn.)
Conference Carolinas Opener | September 20 at Belmont Abbey College - 7:00 pm
Home Opener | September 22 vs. Elizabeth City State University - 2:00 pm
Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship - Quarterfinals - November 19; Semifinals - November 22; Final - November 23