Dawgs Bolster Beach Roster With Senior Transfers
June 01, 2017 | Beach Volleyball
SEATTLE – Coming off its best season in program history, Washington beach volleyball will strengthen its experienced roster with two graduate transfers next season. Head Coach Jonathan Winder announced the additions of Jordan Anderson from UCLA and Kimmy Gardiner from Oklahoma. Both Anderson and Gardiner will be pursuing their Masters in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership.
Anderson and Gardiner will be seniors and will focus solely on the beach next season. It will be the second year that Washington will have two beach-only grad students, as Melanie Wade and Cassie Strickland played beach this spring while working in the same I.A.L. Masters program.
Anderson capped off a stellar beach career with the Bruins in May as she advanced to the round of 16 at the USA Volleyball Intercollegiate Beach Championships. Prior to that, Anderson primarily played at the No. 4 position for UCLA, which was the Pac-12 runner-up and advanced to the NCAA Championships, finishing fifth in the final AVCA coaches poll. Anderson went an outstanding 27-3 in dual matches for the Bruins this past season.
Indoors, Anderson helped lead UCLA to the Elite Eight in her senior season in 2016. UCLA was the Pac-12 runner-up, tied with Stanford, behind the Huskies, and Anderson had 16 kills on a .448 attack percentage in her final match in the Elite Eight against Minnesota. She was an AVCA All-Pacific South Region honorable mention and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention, ranking second on the team with 3.19 kills per set and second with 437.5 total points.
In 2015, Anderson was an All-Pac-12 First Team pick and an AVCA All-America honorable mention. She played at West Virginia in 2013 and 2014 and was an AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2014 as well as All-Big-12 First Team.
"Jordan has been one of the best indoor outside hitters in the NCAA for the past few years. She had an incredible beach year this past season, competing in the NCAA Championships and USAV pairs national championships. Her experience in the sand, her skills as a passer and hitter, her competitiveness, high standards of play, and humble passion will help raise the level of play on our team. We know her well, have competed against her in indoor and beach and are very grateful she chose to come to Washington to continue the upward climb of our beach volleyball team. She has also proven to be an outstanding student in the classroom where she will continue to learn and work on her Masters of Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership.
Gardiner is the second Sooner to travel to Seattle, joining teammate Marion Hazelwood who will play for the Husky indoor squad this fall. A 6-1 outside hitter for the Sooners indoor team, Gardiner will be playing beach for the first time collegiately, as Oklahoma does not sponsor the sport. As a senior indoors, Gardiner ranked third on the team with 2.69 kills per set and her 22 service aces (0.25/set) led the team. She was also second on the team in digs with 3.28 per set. As a freshman, Gardiner played for Mississippi State where she was an All-Region First Team pick and an All-America honorable mention.
"Kimmy is an athlete we have also competed against the last few years," said Winder. "She was one of the most well-rounded right side hitters in the country this past season. She has a proven ability to receive serve, hit from all over the court, and can see the game at a high level. Once she is acclimated to the sand, we know her skills will transfer at an elite level. She is a wonderful person with great energy who will greatly add to the culture and teamwork of our team. She is also a great student who is looking to continue a career in athletics upon graduating with her master's degree from Washington. We are blessed that Kimmy chose to continue her volleyball career in the sand; she will raise the level of our team on and off the sand."
Anderson and Gardiner will be seniors and will focus solely on the beach next season. It will be the second year that Washington will have two beach-only grad students, as Melanie Wade and Cassie Strickland played beach this spring while working in the same I.A.L. Masters program.
Anderson capped off a stellar beach career with the Bruins in May as she advanced to the round of 16 at the USA Volleyball Intercollegiate Beach Championships. Prior to that, Anderson primarily played at the No. 4 position for UCLA, which was the Pac-12 runner-up and advanced to the NCAA Championships, finishing fifth in the final AVCA coaches poll. Anderson went an outstanding 27-3 in dual matches for the Bruins this past season.
Indoors, Anderson helped lead UCLA to the Elite Eight in her senior season in 2016. UCLA was the Pac-12 runner-up, tied with Stanford, behind the Huskies, and Anderson had 16 kills on a .448 attack percentage in her final match in the Elite Eight against Minnesota. She was an AVCA All-Pacific South Region honorable mention and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention, ranking second on the team with 3.19 kills per set and second with 437.5 total points.
In 2015, Anderson was an All-Pac-12 First Team pick and an AVCA All-America honorable mention. She played at West Virginia in 2013 and 2014 and was an AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2014 as well as All-Big-12 First Team.
"Jordan has been one of the best indoor outside hitters in the NCAA for the past few years. She had an incredible beach year this past season, competing in the NCAA Championships and USAV pairs national championships. Her experience in the sand, her skills as a passer and hitter, her competitiveness, high standards of play, and humble passion will help raise the level of play on our team. We know her well, have competed against her in indoor and beach and are very grateful she chose to come to Washington to continue the upward climb of our beach volleyball team. She has also proven to be an outstanding student in the classroom where she will continue to learn and work on her Masters of Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership.
Gardiner is the second Sooner to travel to Seattle, joining teammate Marion Hazelwood who will play for the Husky indoor squad this fall. A 6-1 outside hitter for the Sooners indoor team, Gardiner will be playing beach for the first time collegiately, as Oklahoma does not sponsor the sport. As a senior indoors, Gardiner ranked third on the team with 2.69 kills per set and her 22 service aces (0.25/set) led the team. She was also second on the team in digs with 3.28 per set. As a freshman, Gardiner played for Mississippi State where she was an All-Region First Team pick and an All-America honorable mention.
"Kimmy is an athlete we have also competed against the last few years," said Winder. "She was one of the most well-rounded right side hitters in the country this past season. She has a proven ability to receive serve, hit from all over the court, and can see the game at a high level. Once she is acclimated to the sand, we know her skills will transfer at an elite level. She is a wonderful person with great energy who will greatly add to the culture and teamwork of our team. She is also a great student who is looking to continue a career in athletics upon graduating with her master's degree from Washington. We are blessed that Kimmy chose to continue her volleyball career in the sand; she will raise the level of our team on and off the sand."
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
Thursday, April 24
Monday, April 14
Friday, March 28
Friday, February 28
