Volleyball Season Preview: The Middle Blockers

BOISE, Idaho – This is the third of a four-part series previewing the Boise State volleyball team. Today, we feature the five middle blockers on the roster.

This group of five includes three veterans, a redshirt freshman, and a true freshman.

Leading the group is sixth-year Annie Kaminski, who returns for her final season in the blue and orange. The native of Bellevue, Idaho, is a 2023 All-Mountain West selection and All-MW Honorable Mention in 2022. Kaminski has been a three-year starter at middle blocker and one of the anchors of the defense for a Boise State team ranked among the best defensive teams in the Mountain West. During her career, she has played in 76 matches and 258 sets, recording 508 kills while hitting .362 percent – ranked third all-time in program history – with 248 blocks and 647.0 points.

"The middle blocker position is one where we are really fortunate to have a lot of experience," said head coach Shawn Garus. "Annie Kaminski is back for a sixth year. She has always been a valuable teammate on the court because she brings great energy and work ethic. She possesses that sense of urgency that an experienced player has, and she did not come back to play around but to win a championship."

Reagan Casey, a redshirt senior, joins Kaminski at the middle blocker position. The native of Austin, Texas, has seen limited action since transferring to Boise State in 2022. After redshirting her first season, she played in 13 matches last year, tallying 22 kills, four digs, and 10 blocks. Casey was a NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention at Blinn College (Texas) before coming to Boise State.

"Reagan is a fifth-year senior and has been in our program for three years," said Garus. "She has gotten so much healthier, stronger, and more confident. I am looking forward to seeing her out on the court; I think she is going to have a tremendous senior year."

Layla Smith is the third Bronco with collegiate playing experience. The Humble, Texas, sophomore saw action in five contests in 2023, recording six kills and five blocks. She came to Boise State after a distinguished prep career, during which she was a three-time all-district honoree and was on the AVCA All-American Watch List her senior year.

"Layla is probably our highest touching, high-flying middle blocker," Garus said. "She can really do some good things in front of the setter, and she has added more variety to her attacking during the off-season. She can be an impact player for us this season."

Kendall Hastings redshirted as a freshman in 2023. The Sequim, Wash., native was the Olympic League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and a three-time all-conference first team honoree. As a senior, she averaged 15 kills, 4.2 blocks, 2.8 service aces, and 7.6 digs per match.

"Kendall redshirted last year, but she had a good spring and gained a lot of confidence over the summer," commented Garus. "She has worked hard and has had a good preseason; her development has helped her compete in the gym. I am looking forward to seeing what she can do this fall."

The lone freshman of the five is Eliza Sharp from Burlingame, Calif. Sharp was a two-year starter at Burlingame High School, where, as a junior, she ranked in the top four for CCS Section D for total blocks and top 9 for total kills, recording 98 kills and 37 blocks.

"Eliza is a really dynamic attacker and is as good as anybody we have at hitting all different sets across the net," Garus said. "I think when she is healthy and gets a little more experience on the defensive side, she will be an elite middle blocker for us."

The Broncos open the season August 30-September 1, at Arizona's Cactus Classic in Tucson, where they will face Arizona, Tennessee State and VCU.

The Broncos' home opening weekend is September 13-15, when they host CSU Bakersfield, Gonzaga, and Idaho State in the Boise State Classic.

Season and Single Match Tickets Now on Sale
Season and single-match tickets are available and can be purchased in person at the Albertsons Stadium ticket office, over the phone by calling 208-426-4737, or online at Buy Tickets.

Players Mentioned

Reagan Casey

Kendall Hastings

Annie Kaminski

Eliza Sharp

Layla Smith

Related Videos