Gardner-Webb is losing 6’3″ freshman (and sophomore in 2018) outside hitter Joy Rhodes via transfer to Carson Newman in the Division II classification. In transferring to another classification, Rhodes is expected to be eligible immediately.
As a true freshman out of Wake Forest, North Carolina in 2017, Rhodes played in 56 sets for a 7-22 Gardner-Webb bunch. She totaled 99 kills (1.77 per set) while hitting .106, 41 digs (0.73 per set), 19 blocks (0.34 per set) and 12 aces (0.21 per set). Her best match came on August 25 against Rider in which she logged 13 kills and seven digs.
The Bulldogs had six players who could play outside hitter on the roster in 2017 and already are losing two via graduation. Rhodes makes the position a bit more thin come 2018.
From her old school to Rhodes’ new one, Carson-Newman is coming off of a 17-15 season in 2017 in which they went 10-10 in conference play and lost in the SAC Conference Championship Match before being bounced in five sets by Wingate in the NCAA D-II Tournament.
Rhodes joins a roster that features eight other outside hitters – although none stand above 5’11”. From a height standpoints, Rhodes is the tallest player on the roster which could mean a position move to opposite or middle, but without word on that it would be safe to assume she will remain an outside hitter.
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