Walk-on Davies makes big impact in volleyball

A year ago, Allison Davies' options were pretty simple.

With no serious scholarship offers on the table, the native of Eugene, Ore., could wrap up her volleyball career after finishing high school, or she could try making a Division I team as a walk-on.

She chose the latter, and she chose UNLV.

Rebels volleyball coach Cindy Fredrick couldn't be happier about that decision.

"We were interested in finding another libero, and a friend of my husband knew of one in Oregon who he said was one of the best he had ever seen," Fredrick said. "We got hold of Allison's club coach, and his comments about her really got us interested."

But Fredrick had no scholarship to offer, so Davies would have to fund the venture herself.

"We contacted Allison, she came out on a visit and we liked her," Fredrick said. "I told her I didn't have a scholarship, but she might have a chance to earn one."

Davies joined the team three months ago, and she appears well on her way to earning that scholarship.

"Allison has a great work ethic," Fredrick said. "She goes after everything. She's one of those kids who will pretty much run through walls."

The 5-foot-4-inch freshman has earned a starting spot. She leads the Rebels with 246 digs, and she ranks ninth in the Mountain West Conference with 3.08 digs per set.

Davies admitted the experience has not been easy.

"It was pretty intimidating just to be a freshman, but even more to be a walk-on," said Davies, who as a prep standout led Henry D. Sheldon High to three consecutive district championships. "But it was also a good motivator. I felt I needed to prove myself and prove that I was going to be an important factor."

She has done that, and her influence stretches far beyond the stat book.

"Allison brings a lot of excitement to the floor," Fredrick said. "She loves to celebrate not only her own good plays, but good plays by anyone on the team."

Davies said she has much to celebrate, as the team's future appears bright.

"This team is young, but there's so much potential," Davies said. "And the way we've been improving, we're going to be 10 times better in just a month. There's nothing we can't achieve if we set our minds to it."

Fredrick, who predicted before the season that her inexperienced squad would need some time to come together, also is beginning to see the possibilities. UNLV is 11-11 and has just started the second half of league play.

Now, she said, is the time for her players to make a statement.

"We've played (10) five-game matches," she said. "That tells me the team battles, but it also says that we've let up in a couple of matches. Our goal for the second half of the season is to fight and get those back."

Davies, who logged 21 digs to help the Rebels win a five-game nonconference match at Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, said she's enjoying every minute of her time with the team. Whether she earns a scholarship down the road, she plans to remain a Rebel.

"I don't regret my decision to come to UNLV at all," she said. "This place wasn't even on my radar, but things happen for a reason."

The Rebels resume league play today with a match at Wyoming.