Yesterday we looked at the players leaving us after three years in Knoxville. Today we’ll look back at the pre-Tennessee careers of two players who have spent the last two years here on Rocky Top. Apologies, as I don’t have as much of info in my files about these players because I didn’t follow them sooner since they transferred in later than the others.

BRI HOLMES

Holmes played at Claremont High School in Claremont CA. She was named First Team All-League her final two seasons and her team won the league title her senior year. Holmes played club for Pacific Juniors. She also played soccer and track & field, winning the CIF Southern Section soccer title her senior season. Before coming to UT, she played for UC Riverside, redshirting for her first year. She was sixth on the team in kills for 2013. In 2014, she led the team in kills and attacks, was second in points, and fourth in blocks.

PrepVolleyball: “A big difference [maker]… not only smashing the ball into the floor, but placing the ball well on the court.”

Holmes, on why transferring to Tennessee: “Definitely the coaching. That was my biggest thing, just Rob [Patrick], and what he looks for in his players, the way he coaches, and his coaching style. It was just everything I was looking for. He just kind of checked all the boxes on my list, and it just worked out.”

NORA REED

Reed played for Hopkins High School in Minnetonka MN, where she was an All Conference and honorable mention All State player. She played club for Northern Lights. Before coming to Tennessee she played at VCU. She played in every set as a freshman and ranked second on the team in blocks. She started every match and played every set her sophomore year finishing third on the team in blocks and attack percentage. Reed’s team defeated the Vols in 2013, coming back from two sets down to win. Reed had 7 blocks in that match.

PrepVolleyball: “Has the power needed to terminate the rally.”

VCU coach Jody Rogers: “A very aggressive blocker with a contagious work ethic. She only knows winning and feeding that fuel as she translates to VCU will only increase her ceiling.”