ANDOVER, Kan. (July 7, 2022) – Olivia Hessman, a setter who played a key role for Fort Hays State (Kan.) last season, has transferred to Oklahoma Christian to continue her volleyball career, OC coach Jason Skoch said Thursday.

Hessman, a 5-foot-11 senior, is from Wichita, Kan., and attended Andover High School. She began her college career at Pratt (Kan.) Community College, where in two seasons, she played in 66 matches/227 sets, totaling 296 kills, 1,352 assists, 361 digs, 53 aces and 96 blocks (1.3 kills, 5.96 assists, 1.59 digs and 0.42 blocks per set).

At Pratt, she twice earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College recognition and National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic first-team honors.

She played during the spring 2021 season at Southern Arkansas, appearing in five matches during the pandemic-shortened campaign, finishing with 28 digs (1.6 per set), including 10 in a win over nationally ranked Arkansas Tech. She made the Great American Conference's All-Academic list.

Last season at Fort Hays State, she appeared in 23 matches/77 sets, recording 13 kills, 336 assists (4.36/set), 4 aces and 95 digs (1.23/set) with a .143 hitting percentage. She made the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's Newcomer Honor Roll.

"Olivia comes to us after playing at Fort Hays State last season," Skoch said. "The MIAA is one of the stronger conferences, like the Lone Star Conference. Olivia was able to see a lot of top teams last season, so she knows what is expected of a setter. 

"Olivia's determination is what sold me on her. As she learns our offense, her resiliency will be a positive example on the court. OC is a very high academic school and we are going to help her attain compete her undergraduate so she can attend physical therapy school once she is done competing."