Norfolk State is bolstering its roster with a pair of NJCAA transfers/signings from the same junior college (Odessa College) in Bojana Bolozan and Halley McKnight. Both will be juniors for the upcoming season with two years left of eligibility and will be immediately eligible.
A 6’1″ middle blocker from Serbia, Bolozan comes in as a two-time WJCAC All-Conference selection, including being the league’s MVP in 2017. In winning that MVP award, Bolozan went on to log 275 kills (2.17 per set) on a .327 hitting percentage, 190 blocks (1.50 per set), 76 digs (0.60 per set) and 38 aces (0.30 per set).
“I’m very excited. I love Odessa and being here,” Bolozan said in Odessa College’s release. “I’m happy to continue my education and (to) play volleyball in Norfolk, and I’m happy to see some other places in America.”
McKnight was also a WJCAC All-Conference pick in 2017 and stands as a 5’8″ setter out of Bastrop, Texas. After appearing in 31 matches as a freshman she recorded 646 assists (5.09 per set), 305 digs (2.40 per set), 46 kills (0.36 per set) and 43 aces (0.34 per set) in her sophomore campaign.
“Coming here and playing these past two years have really showed me that I’m really passionate and I really want to continue to play,” McKnight added in the release. “It actually showed me that I wanted to keep playing volleyball.”
It’s actually not the first time that Odessa College – who in total has pushed 24 players to four-year schools – has sent a player off to Norfolk State. Headed into 2017, Norfolk State also added Anna Rupertova. She came in as an MVP of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) but missed all of last year with injury. On the bright side, that allowed her to take a redshirt so the entire trio from Odessa College that helped them to a 25-6 year in 2016 and a first-place finish in conference will be teaming up as juniors.
That threesome will be looking to take their winning ways to the team this year, as Norfolk State is coming off of a 3-23 season in which they went 0-12 as a member of the MEAC. They’re on pace to return three outside hitters to go with Rupertova, two setters to go with McKnight and three middles to pair with Bolozan.
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