Smith Signs With NAIA Shawnee State University, Fourth Volleyball Sophomore To Ink With 4-Year School

Deanna Smith, center, is joined by her fellow sophomores Erika Hartings (L) and Macy Reigelsperger (R), who are all wearing the shirts of their four-year schools. Photo by Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Deanna Smith, center, is joined by her fellow sophomores Erika Hartings (L) and Macy Reigelsperger (R), who are all wearing the shirts of their four-year schools. Photo by Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Posted: Apr 22, 2016

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Deanna Smith (Riverview/Riverview, Mich.), a sophomore setter for the Owens Community College women's volleyball team, has signed with NAIA Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio.

As a sophomore, Smith recorded 948 assists, 217 digs and 24 service aces in 44 matches. She led the team in assists and finished fourth in aces and sixth in digs. She closed her two-year career with 1,740 assists, 467 digs and 59 aces.

Smith is a graduate of Riverview High School, where she was a two-time First Team All-Huron League selection. She is one of two Riverview graduates (Lindsay Trumitch, 2005-06) to play for Owens volleyball.

Smith becomes the fourth of five sophomores on this past year's team to sign with a four-year school to continue her playing career. She joins Macy Reigelsperger (Coldwater/Coldwater, Ohio), a 5'10" outside hitter, who signed with NCAA Division I University of Tennessee - Martin, Erika Hartings (Coldwater/Coldwater, Ohio), a 5'10" outside hitter who signed with NCAA Division II Francis Marion University and 6'0" right side hitter Taylor Purcell (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) who signed with NAIA Madonna University. The fifth, Ally Mikesell (St. Henry/St. Henry, Ohio) will continue her education at a four-year school.

Smith also becomes the 10th Owens student-athlete to sign with a four-year school so far this year.

Shawnee State, which competes in the Mid-South Conference, finished 16-17 overall last year. They advanced to the Mid-South Conference tournament quarterfinals before falling to Lindsey Wilson.

Notes

The Owens Community College women's volleyball program competes at the national level every year. Head coach Sonny Lewis recently completed his 15th year in charge, and he has never had a losing season, while accumulating a 544-184 overall record and a 176-14 record in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play.

In 2015, Lewis led the team to a 40-7 overall record, including an OCCAC championship, a Region XII tournament championship and a ninth place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament. The team recorded an 18 match win streak at one point that featured just six set losses over that stretch. Following the season, Lewis was named the OCCAC and Region XII Coach of the Year. It was his eighth conference coach of the year selection.

In 2014, Lewis recorded his 500th win at Owens, while leading the team to a 34-11 overall record and a 12-2 mark in OCCAC play.

Since the volleyball program begin in 1994, Owens has captured 14 conference championships and nine Region XII championships. They have finished top five in the nation five times at the NJCAA National Tournament.