Olivia Brees

Typically when you make the transition from high school to college for sports it's focusing on one sport from that point on but for some athletes being a multi-sports athlete continues in college, too. For former Jeff West Tiger Olivia Brees that is the case as she competes in both volleyball and softball at Baker University. 

Brees now in her sophomore campaign recently just wrapped up the volleyball season for the Baker Wildcats who finished 12-20 overall and 6-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Olivia helped lead the charge on the team notching 203 kills ranking second on the team, while recording 12 aces and 65 digs. But her biggest impact came upfront at the net with her defense and her blocking as she notched 132 blocks on the year to lead Baker, rank sixth in the HAAC and 26th in the NAIA. The former Jeff West Tiger for her strong year on the court picked up second team All-Conference honors in the HAAC this year in volleyball. As a freshman Brees recorded 135 kills, 23 digs and 90 blocks for Baker. 

While her impact if felt greatly on the volleyball court perhaps it's even bigger on the softball field as she made a huge impact as just a freshman on the softball field and is expect to contribute heavily again this year. As a freshman Brees led Baker inside the circle in many pitching categories including ERA (2.45), wins (16), innings pitched (180.1) and strikeouts (222) and earned honorable mention All-Conference honors as the team posted a 26-28 record. Brees pitched 18 complete games and her 222 strikeouts ranked 10th nationally in NAIA. Perhaps the highlight of the season for Olivia was a no-hitter that she tossed in an 8-0 five inning win over McPherson College, a game in which she struckout seven and walked only two. 

At Jeff West, Brees finished her high school career in an impressive fashion being named the Jeff West "Athlete of the Year." Olivia earned first team All-Big Seven League honors in three sports - volleyball, softball and basketball, while earning second team All-State volleyball and honorable mention All-State basketball. She helped guide the Tiger basketball team to the 4A-DII State tournament and the softball team to a 4A-DII State title. 

Brees has started her collegiate sports career strong and look impacts in two sports and looks to continue to find success on the volleyball court and softball field as she continues her Baker Wildcat athletic career.