Alayna Pierce

Bio

2024 (Freshman): Pierce made 26 starts and competed in 30 of Tech’s 32 matches, playing in 100 of 114 overall sets… became just the second Golden Eagle ever to earn at least three OVC Freshman of the Week honors (Jordan Karlen) and the third Tech rookie to be named to an All-OVC First or Second Team (earning Second Team honors)… ranked second on the team and sixth in the OVC with 3.08 kills and 3.50 points per set… finished second on the Golden Eagles and eighth in the league with 308 kills and 350.0 points… tallied 26 service aces, 261 digs, 23 total blocks, and nine solo rejections… averaged 0.26 aces and 2.61 digs per set… made her collegiate debut with five kills and a .444 attack percentage versus Mississippi Valley State (Aug. 31)… dropped season-highs of 21 kills, 24.0 points, three solo blocks, and three total rejections with 15 digs against Western Illinois (Oct. 4)… picked up her first career double-double with 13 terminations and 13 digs versus Delaware State (Sept. 7)… secured a season-best 21 digs with 10 kills at Southeast Missouri (Nov. 1)… delivered a season-high three aces to go along with 12 kills and 10 digs against Southern Indiana (Nov. 15)… reached double figures in kills 17 times and tallied at least 15 terminations in five matches… produced eight double-doubles on the year… totaled double-digit digs 11 times.

High School: Pierce was a four-year letterwinner at Genoa-Kinston High School in Genoa, Ill., competing as an outside hitter… led her squad to both conference and regional titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023… helped GKHS claim sectional, super-sectional, and state crowns as a junior… named a Big Northern Conference First Team honoree three times… earned Chicago Tribune/Beacon-News/Courier-News Volleyball Player of the Year and Daily Chronicle Volleyball Player of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year honors… accounted for 1,324 kills and 838 digs during her career… amassed 488 terminations and 227 digs as a senior and 452 kills and 326 digs as a junior… finished as GKHS' record holder for kills in a game, in a season, and in a career.

Personal: Daughter of Amy and Michael Pierce… born in Elgin, Ill. on April 2, 2006… full name is Alayna Lynn Pierce.

Academic: Majoring in exercise science and physical wellness with a concentration in physiology… named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll twice and the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll once.

Honors & Awards:

• 2024 All-OVC Second Team
• 2024 3x OVC Freshman of the Week (Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Nov. 18)