Name: Elise Ruddins Â
Game: Ruddins is a hard-hitting right side who provides a huge body for blocking, something the Trojans have been missing on the right side. While some outside hitters possess the skill that allows them to finesse the ball, Ruddins is a power hitter that crushes the ball. The coaching staff is looking for her to fill the void left by graduate Katie Fuller.Â
Position: Outside Hitter
Class: Freshman
Size: 6-foot-3
Age: 18
High School: Aliso Niguel (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Prep Career: Ruddins performed exceptionally for her high school as well as for the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club before signing with the Trojans. She was Prep Volleyball's No. 2 Senior Ace, her high school's most valuable player and varsity captain. Due to an injury, Ruddins only played 26 sets her senior year but managed 102 kills in that short amount of time.Â
Non-Conference: Ruddins is off to an incredible start already being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after just five matches. She's played 21 sets with a whopping 74 kills including a match in which she had 24 kills making that a season-high for the entire Women's Volleyball team.
To quote Ruddins: "The level of play is so much higher than high school. I mean everyone's good so you always have to be competing."
Check out this interview to learn more about freshman Elise Ruddins! No. 5 USC women's volleyball hosts Cal State Fullerton tonight at 7 p.m.
