Just days after Ohio State tacked on a Kentucky transfer in Jordan Fry, the Buckeyes are bringing on their second addition from Lexington in setter Olivia Dailey. She will be immediately eligible in 2018 for Ohio State.
Dailey, a 5’10” junior in 2017, appeared in just six sets of play and five matches. For that reason it is unclear if she took a redshirt and will be a fourth-year junior in 2018 or if she will progress to senior eligibility.
Prior to this past year though, Dailey was a mainstay in the Kentucky lineup. She appeared in 86 sets over 28 matches in year one – mostly as a serving specialist. As a sophomore in 2016, Dailey led the team with 11.78 assists per set in addition to her 1.98 digs per set, 0.72 blocks per set and 0.21 aces per set. That was good enough for the Trussville, Alabama native to be a 2016 All-SEC pick and be named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection.
However, even with the big season, Kentucky brought in freshman phenom setter Madison Lilley, who made the AVCA All-America Second Team in year one. Knowing she was behind a younger player for that starting setter role was likely the reason for this move from Dailey.
The common denominator between the two additions is both were stuck behind another player on the depth chart at Kentucky. However, what’s different is that the two in front of Fry are graduating while Dailey had Lilley ahead of her.
The pair will look to bring some of Kentucky’s winning ways – co-SEC champions and an Elite Eight appearance in 2017 – to Ohio State, who missed the NCAA Tournament after going 15-16 and finishing ninth in the Big Ten.
Leave a Reply