KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Experienced players and veteran leadership highlight the 2024 Oregon Tech volleyball program, as the Lady Owls begin their second season under head coach Alexis Garrision.
 
The club returns every hitter and blocker from last season's 12-18 squad that reached the Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinals - and picked eighth in the recent CCC Preseason Coaches Poll. Depth was a question mark at times in 2023, but a quality recruiting class gives Garrison multiple players to choose from in the front row.
 
"Things have been substantially different to start this season," Garrison said. "There is a different determination in the players eyes, and it shows in their level of play – they are working extremely hard.
 
The Lady Owls hit at a .161 clip during the 2023 season, averaging 11.4 kills and 1.8 blocks per set – all in the middle of the pack among CCC teams. With a couple tweaks, those numbers should climb.
 
Both starting middle blockers return to the lineup, as the tandem of senior Kate Hicks and sophomore Aleksen Thayer started all 30 matches. The 6-foot tall Hicks recorded career highs in both kills (1.75 per set) and blocks (0.97 per set), as the 3-year starter ranks No. 6 in program history in blocks (263) – just 65 away from the all-time mark. Thayer, who also stands 6-feet tall, averaged nearly a kill per set, but ranked second on the club with 85 blocks.
 
The Owls added a third middle, as Tiana Barrett, from Iolani High and Jammers Volleyball Club in Hawaii, will work behind the starting duo. The 5-foot-8 Barrett, who plays much taller than her size, was an All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu pick as a senior and named to the Hawaii Division I all-state team.
 
"Before I got here, Oregon Tech wasn't used to setting middles," Garrison said. "We made that change and it made our offensive multi-dimensional. Alex has grown tremendously in a short amount of time. Kate works hard and knows the game. Defensively, they will be key with their block – putting pressure on the opponent."
 
At the pins, the increased depth and competition at the outside and opposite spots will be crucial to the Owls success.
 
On the outside, senior All-CCC pick Molly Grace looks to build off a breakout season. Grace led Tech and ranked among the Top-5 in the league in kills per set (3.43), adding a team-best .234 hitting percentage and added two digs per set. The 5-foot-10 hitter recorded nine double-doubles and set the OIT school-record for kills in a match with 28 against Bushnell.
 
Junior Savanna Sterck split time last season between both pins, but will focus as an outside hitter in 2024. The 6-foot-2 Sterck ranked second on the team, averaging 2.70 kills per set – including a career-high 20 kills in a win over Northwest.
 
"Molly has become more of a leader and we need that as we expect her to play six rotations," Garrison said. "We need her have that tough mentality and we've seen it with her communication defensively. We need Savanna to be that dominant hitter and continue to be a closer late in sets."
 
On the opposite side, 6-foot-2 Willow Jacobson is back, as the junior recorded six double-digit kill matches in 2023, averaging 2.10 kills and 0.62 blocks per set – but injuries sidelined her for much of the league schedule.
 
"Losing Willow for a month last season hurt our team with her presence offensively and with her block," Garrison said. "She is always improving, and we look for her to be a key go-to person."
 
Three newcomers will be key to the Owls success – transfers Courtney Green and Lex Boccia, along with freshman Berlyn Overturf.
 
Green, a 6-foot junior, was a six-rotation player at Central Wyoming CC, averaging nearly three kills and two digs per set from an outside spot a season ago, adding 40 aces. Boccia, a 6-foot-1 junior, played on the right side at Sierra College, averaging two kills a set, adding 48 blocks and 31 aces. Overturf, a 5-foot-10 freshman from Columbia High in Idaho, was a 2-time All-Southern Idaho Conference pick and played for the Idaho Crush Volleyball Club.
 
"We wanted a larger offense and brought in some height with collegiate experience – which was needed," Garrison said. "Last season, we were lacking depth – but this season, we will have options."
 
The Owls open the 2024 season with two tournaments – traveling to Florida for the Vipers Sports Academy Classic, along with a trip to California for the Hope International Summer Slam.