Season Preview Part One: The Outside Hitters
8/18/2025 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
This article marks the first of a four-part season preview for the Boise State volleyball team, focusing on the outside hitters.
This year's group of six outside hitters returns one veteran from 2024 in Bridey O'Connor, three transfers and two freshmen. All six are vying for starting positions when the season begins against Navy on Aug. 28 in Orem, Utah.
What head coach Shawn Garus is looking for from the outside hitter positions is, first, that they need to pass well as part of the service receive crew. Then they must play good defense and block at their position. Finally, they must be successful in scoring on the attack. Point scoring is what the Broncos lost most to graduation.
"The pin hitters (outside hitters), with the outside and right side combined, are where we have a lot of newcomers," Garus said. "There are three upperclassmen transfers, two true freshmen, and then Bridey (O'Connor) returning. Bridey had a tremendous spring. She had a lot of opportunities to play outside hitter on the left side. I think she gained a lot of confidence from that opportunity she had in the spring, and she's continued to carry that over to fall camp."
O'Connor enters her junior season as the lone outside hitter returning from 2024. She has played in 38 career matches, averaging 1.03 kills, 0.45 digs, 0.2 blocks, and 1.15 points per set.
"The three transfers that have come in are all hitting the ground running," said Garus. "I appreciate the perspective that they have, having been at other places, and they came here to make the most of their last season. They're not just good volleyball players; they're good culture people as well. They're saying the right things, they're doing the right things off the court. That is going to be really important for us this season."
Ari (Arianna) Bilby comes to Boise State after three years at Seattle U, where she was an All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honoree in 2024. Last year, she led the Redhawks in kills (319), points (367.5), kills per set (3.29) and points per set (3.79). Her kills and points averages ranked seventh in the WAC. She finished her Seattle U career ranked fourth during the Redhawks' NCAA D1 era for career kills (905) and third for kills per set (3.40)
"Ari has the most experience of the outside hitters. She's a sixth-year senior," said Garus. "She's already got her master's and is a very mature person, and a very seasoned volleyball player. I appreciate her work ethic every day, and I love seeing her speed; it's going to fit well in our offense."
Jazi Smith spent the last four years playing in the NAIA ranks for Montana Western, where she earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Honorable Mention recognition in 2023. In addition, Smith is a three-time All-Frontier Conference First Team honoree.
In 2024, Smith led the Frontier Conference and ranked 14th nationally for kills with 469 and points with 532.5. In addition, she had 29 service aces, 574 digs and 63 blocks. Smith left UMW as the school's record holder for career kills with 943.
"Jazi played at the NAIA level. But that doesn't define her," Garus said. "She is a hard worker, quick mover, has good all-around skills, and is a very focused player in practice, trying to make sure she understands what we need her to do, and finding ways for her to contribute to our team."
Kailyn Jager transferred from UC Riverside, where she played for one year after spending two years in the California community college ranks. Jager was a junior college AVCA All-American and a California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) All-State Team honoree in 2023.
Last year with the UCR Highlanders, Jager started 26 of 31 matches, tallying 148 kills, 32 service aces, 299 digs, 21 blocks and 191 points. As a sophomore at San Diego Mesa CC, she led the team and conference and ranked third in the 3C2A with 478 kills, to go with 51 service aces, 285 digs (team high / 2nd in league), 36 blocks and 554.5 points (team and league high, 4th in 3C2A).
"Kailyn is a transfer with a ton of experience as an outside hitter," said Garus. "I've actually watched her play longer than the others, and so I'm very familiar with her game, and it translates really well to what we need. She's a six-rotation player who can play tough, pass, defend, serve, and score on the outside. I love what she's bringing to the gym every day."
The last two members of the outside hitters group are the freshmen, Giselle Paedon and Sydney Dreves. They are an exciting duo of young talent with the skills to make an immediate impact on the lineup.
"The two freshmen are really exciting to watch on the outside," Garus said. "Giselle is probably our highest athlete, big arm swing, just a ton of upside. I love how much she has worked in the last couple of years to become more of a well-rounded six-rotation player. I see her competing right away for playing time, and the sky's the limit for her potential."
Paedon comes to Boise State from San Jose, California, where she graduated from Branham High School last spring. She was a four-year starter at opposite hitter. Paedon was a league MVP and a three-time all-league honoree who recorded over 1,000 kills in her career, 400 as a senior.
"Sydney, we recruited more as a future libero, but she's currently competing amongst the pin hitters, outside and right side, and doing a really good job," said Garus. "I think Sydney has all-around skills. She possesses the skills to excel as a back row specialist, can also compete among the outside hitters, and is a strong blocker due to her exceptional high volleyball IQ."
Dreves is a 2025 graduate of Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington, where she was a four-year starter. As a senior, she was named the Washington 2A Player of the Year, Washington 2A All-State, Washington State Championship Tournament MVP, and the Greater St. Helen's League Player of the Year. Dreves was also a four-time all-state, all-region, and first-team all-conference honoree. She recorded 430 kills as a senior, ranking first among players in southwest Washington, and 315 digs to rank second.
The Broncos will open the 2025 campaign on the road, on Aug. 29 in Orem, Utah, where they will face Navy and Montana in a doubleheader on the first day of the Utah Valley Invitational.
Part two of the four-part series will be posted on Tuesday, featuring the middle blockers.
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The Broncos have already sold out of their reserved season tickets for 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year that reserved tickets have sold out. However, general admission season tickets are still available, so don't wait to buy yours today. Â
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This year's group of six outside hitters returns one veteran from 2024 in Bridey O'Connor, three transfers and two freshmen. All six are vying for starting positions when the season begins against Navy on Aug. 28 in Orem, Utah.
What head coach Shawn Garus is looking for from the outside hitter positions is, first, that they need to pass well as part of the service receive crew. Then they must play good defense and block at their position. Finally, they must be successful in scoring on the attack. Point scoring is what the Broncos lost most to graduation.
"The pin hitters (outside hitters), with the outside and right side combined, are where we have a lot of newcomers," Garus said. "There are three upperclassmen transfers, two true freshmen, and then Bridey (O'Connor) returning. Bridey had a tremendous spring. She had a lot of opportunities to play outside hitter on the left side. I think she gained a lot of confidence from that opportunity she had in the spring, and she's continued to carry that over to fall camp."
O'Connor enters her junior season as the lone outside hitter returning from 2024. She has played in 38 career matches, averaging 1.03 kills, 0.45 digs, 0.2 blocks, and 1.15 points per set.
"The three transfers that have come in are all hitting the ground running," said Garus. "I appreciate the perspective that they have, having been at other places, and they came here to make the most of their last season. They're not just good volleyball players; they're good culture people as well. They're saying the right things, they're doing the right things off the court. That is going to be really important for us this season."
Ari (Arianna) Bilby comes to Boise State after three years at Seattle U, where she was an All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honoree in 2024. Last year, she led the Redhawks in kills (319), points (367.5), kills per set (3.29) and points per set (3.79). Her kills and points averages ranked seventh in the WAC. She finished her Seattle U career ranked fourth during the Redhawks' NCAA D1 era for career kills (905) and third for kills per set (3.40)
"Ari has the most experience of the outside hitters. She's a sixth-year senior," said Garus. "She's already got her master's and is a very mature person, and a very seasoned volleyball player. I appreciate her work ethic every day, and I love seeing her speed; it's going to fit well in our offense."
Jazi Smith spent the last four years playing in the NAIA ranks for Montana Western, where she earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Honorable Mention recognition in 2023. In addition, Smith is a three-time All-Frontier Conference First Team honoree.
In 2024, Smith led the Frontier Conference and ranked 14th nationally for kills with 469 and points with 532.5. In addition, she had 29 service aces, 574 digs and 63 blocks. Smith left UMW as the school's record holder for career kills with 943.
"Jazi played at the NAIA level. But that doesn't define her," Garus said. "She is a hard worker, quick mover, has good all-around skills, and is a very focused player in practice, trying to make sure she understands what we need her to do, and finding ways for her to contribute to our team."
Kailyn Jager transferred from UC Riverside, where she played for one year after spending two years in the California community college ranks. Jager was a junior college AVCA All-American and a California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) All-State Team honoree in 2023.
Last year with the UCR Highlanders, Jager started 26 of 31 matches, tallying 148 kills, 32 service aces, 299 digs, 21 blocks and 191 points. As a sophomore at San Diego Mesa CC, she led the team and conference and ranked third in the 3C2A with 478 kills, to go with 51 service aces, 285 digs (team high / 2nd in league), 36 blocks and 554.5 points (team and league high, 4th in 3C2A).
"Kailyn is a transfer with a ton of experience as an outside hitter," said Garus. "I've actually watched her play longer than the others, and so I'm very familiar with her game, and it translates really well to what we need. She's a six-rotation player who can play tough, pass, defend, serve, and score on the outside. I love what she's bringing to the gym every day."
The last two members of the outside hitters group are the freshmen, Giselle Paedon and Sydney Dreves. They are an exciting duo of young talent with the skills to make an immediate impact on the lineup.
"The two freshmen are really exciting to watch on the outside," Garus said. "Giselle is probably our highest athlete, big arm swing, just a ton of upside. I love how much she has worked in the last couple of years to become more of a well-rounded six-rotation player. I see her competing right away for playing time, and the sky's the limit for her potential."
Paedon comes to Boise State from San Jose, California, where she graduated from Branham High School last spring. She was a four-year starter at opposite hitter. Paedon was a league MVP and a three-time all-league honoree who recorded over 1,000 kills in her career, 400 as a senior.
"Sydney, we recruited more as a future libero, but she's currently competing amongst the pin hitters, outside and right side, and doing a really good job," said Garus. "I think Sydney has all-around skills. She possesses the skills to excel as a back row specialist, can also compete among the outside hitters, and is a strong blocker due to her exceptional high volleyball IQ."
Dreves is a 2025 graduate of Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington, where she was a four-year starter. As a senior, she was named the Washington 2A Player of the Year, Washington 2A All-State, Washington State Championship Tournament MVP, and the Greater St. Helen's League Player of the Year. Dreves was also a four-time all-state, all-region, and first-team all-conference honoree. She recorded 430 kills as a senior, ranking first among players in southwest Washington, and 315 digs to rank second.
The Broncos will open the 2025 campaign on the road, on Aug. 29 in Orem, Utah, where they will face Navy and Montana in a doubleheader on the first day of the Utah Valley Invitational.
Part two of the four-part series will be posted on Tuesday, featuring the middle blockers.
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BUY TICKETS NOW
Fans can purchase single-match and season tickets in person at the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 208-426-4737. All tickets can also be purchased online. Season tickets start at $50 per seat, and family plans are also available for $120 (must buy four seats).The Broncos have already sold out of their reserved season tickets for 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year that reserved tickets have sold out. However, general admission season tickets are still available, so don't wait to buy yours today. Â
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/ Women's VolleyballWBB | Highlights vs Nevada
Monday, March 10
Volleyball Preview: The Outside Hitters
Friday, August 23
Volleyball Preview: The Middle Blockers
Thursday, August 22
Volleyball Preview: The Liberos & Defensive Specialists
Wednesday, August 21
