University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: CBU Athletics
Volleyball Announces Addition Of Miaya Smith
Mar 25, 2020 | Women's Volleyball
Smith transfers from Christian Brothers, where she played the 2018 and 2019 campaigns.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis volleyball head coach Sean Burdette announced Wednesday that Miaya Smith is joining the Tigers program for the 2020 season. Smith's transfer occurred prior to the NCAA suspending recruiting activities as a result of the pandemic.
Smith, who is enrolled at Memphis for the 2020 spring semester, transferred after playing her first two years at Christian Brothers University. She prepped for three years (2015-17) at St. George's Independent School in Collierville.
The following is a biographical sketch and Burdette's comments on Smith:
Miaya Smith
MH / 6-1
Memphis, Tenn. / St. George's Independent School
Christian Brothers University
2018/2019 Seasons (Freshman/Sophomore; Christian Brothers University)
Two-time Christian Brothers University Athletics Bronze Scholar (3.20-3.49 GPA) … In first two collegiate seasons, posted 689 kills and 182 total blocks in 230 sets played … Had a career .333 hitting percentage … As a sophomore, led the team in total blocks (90) and second in kills (302) … Had a .280 hitting percentage … Her hitting percentage was eighth in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) … Named to the 2019 preseason All-GSC team … Collected double-digit kills in 17 matches in 2019 … Opened the 2019 campaign with seven-consecutive double-digit kills matches … Downed a season-high 16 kills at Shorter (.480 hitting percentage) … Had a season-best .500 hitting percentage in a neutral-site match vs. Virginia State (15 kills/2 errors/26 attempts) … Posted seven matches with five or more total blocks … Had a career-high tying seven total blocks in three matches (vs. Ouachita Baptist, Harding, Rollins) … In 2018, burst upon the collegiate scene as a freshman with 387 kills (second on team) and 92 total blocks (led team) … Led the GSC in hitting percentage (.379) and was fourth in kills per set (3.25) … Earned 2018 All-GSC second team honors … Named the GSC Freshman of the Week three times … Had 22 double-figures kills matches … Started college career with double-digit kills in five of her first seven matches, including a career-high 20 kills against Pittsburg State … Had five matches with a .600 or higher hitting percentage … Recorded a career-high .654 hitting percentage against Union (18 kills/1 error/26 attempts) … Had six matches with five or more blocks … Blocked a career-high seven attempts vs. Auburn-Montgomery.
High School
Lettered three seasons for head coach Emmy McClain at St. George's Independent School in Collierville, Tenn. … Helped the Gryphons to a 74-38 record and three-straight Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Division II-A state playoff appearances … St. George's finished as the TSSAA DII-A West District runner-up all three seasons (29-4 district record over the three campaigns) …
Played in 299 career sets and had 623 kills and 234 total blocks … Had a career .341 hitting percentage … Improved her kills total each season from 59 as a sophomore to 268 as a junior and 296 as a senior … Nearly doubled her blocks total from sophomore to senior season (50 in 2015/85 in 2016/99 in 2017) …
As a senior, ranked among the state's leaders in total blocks (99) and hitting percentage (.379) … Also listed among the district's leaders in hitting percentage (.379) and kills (296) … 2017 honors included: Commercial AppealAll-Metro second team, TSSAA DII-A All-District team and TSSAA Division II-A West All-Region team … Recipient of the team's Coaches Award … In 2016, had 268 kills and 85 total blocks … Named to the 2016 Commercial AppealAll-Metro team.
Personal
Daughter of Margaret A. Porter-Smith and Ike Smith … Birthday is May 25 … Plans to major in Health Science.
Burdette's comments on Smith:"Miaya, a local Memphian, brings elite athleticism to the team at the middle hitter position. Offensively, she can create mismatches by attacking equally well in front and behind the setter. She is quick off the ground and possesses a fast arm to beat the opponent's block. I am excited to work with Miaya over the next two seasons as she has a tremendous upside and high ceiling. She is a hard worker and continually wants to learn and get better."
Smith, who is enrolled at Memphis for the 2020 spring semester, transferred after playing her first two years at Christian Brothers University. She prepped for three years (2015-17) at St. George's Independent School in Collierville.
The following is a biographical sketch and Burdette's comments on Smith:
Miaya Smith
MH / 6-1
Memphis, Tenn. / St. George's Independent School
Christian Brothers University
2018/2019 Seasons (Freshman/Sophomore; Christian Brothers University)
Two-time Christian Brothers University Athletics Bronze Scholar (3.20-3.49 GPA) … In first two collegiate seasons, posted 689 kills and 182 total blocks in 230 sets played … Had a career .333 hitting percentage … As a sophomore, led the team in total blocks (90) and second in kills (302) … Had a .280 hitting percentage … Her hitting percentage was eighth in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) … Named to the 2019 preseason All-GSC team … Collected double-digit kills in 17 matches in 2019 … Opened the 2019 campaign with seven-consecutive double-digit kills matches … Downed a season-high 16 kills at Shorter (.480 hitting percentage) … Had a season-best .500 hitting percentage in a neutral-site match vs. Virginia State (15 kills/2 errors/26 attempts) … Posted seven matches with five or more total blocks … Had a career-high tying seven total blocks in three matches (vs. Ouachita Baptist, Harding, Rollins) … In 2018, burst upon the collegiate scene as a freshman with 387 kills (second on team) and 92 total blocks (led team) … Led the GSC in hitting percentage (.379) and was fourth in kills per set (3.25) … Earned 2018 All-GSC second team honors … Named the GSC Freshman of the Week three times … Had 22 double-figures kills matches … Started college career with double-digit kills in five of her first seven matches, including a career-high 20 kills against Pittsburg State … Had five matches with a .600 or higher hitting percentage … Recorded a career-high .654 hitting percentage against Union (18 kills/1 error/26 attempts) … Had six matches with five or more blocks … Blocked a career-high seven attempts vs. Auburn-Montgomery.
High School
Lettered three seasons for head coach Emmy McClain at St. George's Independent School in Collierville, Tenn. … Helped the Gryphons to a 74-38 record and three-straight Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Division II-A state playoff appearances … St. George's finished as the TSSAA DII-A West District runner-up all three seasons (29-4 district record over the three campaigns) …
Played in 299 career sets and had 623 kills and 234 total blocks … Had a career .341 hitting percentage … Improved her kills total each season from 59 as a sophomore to 268 as a junior and 296 as a senior … Nearly doubled her blocks total from sophomore to senior season (50 in 2015/85 in 2016/99 in 2017) …
As a senior, ranked among the state's leaders in total blocks (99) and hitting percentage (.379) … Also listed among the district's leaders in hitting percentage (.379) and kills (296) … 2017 honors included: Commercial AppealAll-Metro second team, TSSAA DII-A All-District team and TSSAA Division II-A West All-Region team … Recipient of the team's Coaches Award … In 2016, had 268 kills and 85 total blocks … Named to the 2016 Commercial AppealAll-Metro team.
Personal
Daughter of Margaret A. Porter-Smith and Ike Smith … Birthday is May 25 … Plans to major in Health Science.
Burdette's comments on Smith:"Miaya, a local Memphian, brings elite athleticism to the team at the middle hitter position. Offensively, she can create mismatches by attacking equally well in front and behind the setter. She is quick off the ground and possesses a fast arm to beat the opponent's block. I am excited to work with Miaya over the next two seasons as she has a tremendous upside and high ceiling. She is a hard worker and continually wants to learn and get better."
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