The 2024 season will be Lorelee Smith’s 18th as the women's volleyball head coach at Lewis University.
Lewis have won three straight GLVC Tournaments in 2021, 2022, 2023 as the Flyers were the No. 4 seed after defeating Rockhurst in 2022 after going 22-9 during the season.
The Flyers won the GLVC Regular Season Crown and GLVC Tournament and in 2021 after recording a 26-7 record and a 17-1 mark in conference play. Lewis saw an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Smith, who is the fourth head coach in school-history, guided the Flyers to a mark of 17-2 during the 2020 season that was played in the Spring of 2021. The Flyers ran off 16 straight wins to begin the season and won the GLVC regular season championship and advanced to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament.
In 2019, she guided the Flyers to a 28-6 record, 15-3 in the GLVC and hosted the NCAA Midwest Regional for the second time in three years. Lewis opened the season winning 16 of its first 17 matches and finished the regular season winning 10 of their final 11 matches to secure the number two seed in the GLVC Tournament. The season was highlighted by a come from behind victory over Rockhurst on the final weekend of the regular which saw the Flyers rally from a 2-0 deficit to win the match.
During the 2018 season, Smith led the Flyers to 29-8 record, 15-3 in the GLVC and their second Midwest Regional title in three years as Lewis defeated Rockhurst 3-1 in the regional final at Drury. The Flyers advanced to the Final Four for the second time in three years.
Smith guided Lewis to a 33-3 record in 2017, their second GLVC Championship in three years and 10th overall. Lewis hosted the NCAA Midwest Regional at Neil Carey Arena for the first time ever and advanced to the Regional Championship match.
Smith's 10th season was certainly one to remember as she led the Flyers to a 29-8 record and advanced to the 2016 NCAA Division II Semifinals. Lewis' postseason run included the Midwest Regional Championship and a victory over defending National Champion Wheeling Jesuit in the NCAA Quarterfinals. For her efforts, Smith was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year for the third time in her career (2009, '10).
Paving the way for the Flyers' postseason success was the performances of three American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Americans, including 2016 Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year Aly Schneider (2nd Team). Joining Schneider as All-Americans was setter Abby Becker (Third Team) and outside hitter Elizabeth Hyland (Honorable Mention). All three, including right side hitter Maddie Seliga, were All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team honorees.
The Flyers have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 15 consecutive seasons. It is the longest streak for any volleyball team in the Midwest Region. It is also the longest streak of consecutive NCAA berths for any Lewis program in department history.
Smith has compiled a 487-120 record in her time at Lewis. She guided Lewis to Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2017, Spring 2021, 2021, 2022, 2023 Her Flyers won regular season titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and Spring 2021, 2022 During Smith’s tenure, Lewis has set school records for consecutive victories (27) and consecutive home victories (41). The 41-home match win streak is 14th longest in NCAA Division II history.
Smith’s Flyers have earned
44 All-GLVC,
25 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region and 29 AVCA All-America honors.
Setter Rachel Ruedi, outside hitter Stephanie Sagat and outside hitter Kim Vertin highlight the list of talented players to have played under Smith. Vertin earned GLVC Player of the Year honors in 2013 as well as taking home AVCA All-American Second Team accolades. In 2010, Ruedi took home GLVC Player of the Year, GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and AVCA All-American Second Team accolades. She graduated third in career assists at Lewis with 4,578.
In 2009 Sagat became Lewis’ career kills leader with 1,676. She was named to the AVCA All-American Second Team along with earning GLVC Player of the Year and Daktronics Region Player of the Year. Sagat helped the Flyers finish the 2009 season No. 9 in nation, Lewis' highest ranking in the history of the Division II AVCA Poll. Lewis did so thanks to a run to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Sagat isn’t the only Flyer to break records under Smith. Amy Choi broke the all-time digs record in 2013 with 2,108. Alexis Davito set a new rally scoring era mark for aces with 168 from 2011-15. Leigh Barea became the rally scoring era leader in assists by recording 4,658 from 2011-14.
Lewis has also broken several team records under Smith. Her 2007 Flyers recorded the highest winning percentage (.889, 32-4) in school history on their way to a GLVC Championship and NCAA Sweet 16 finish. The squad also set team records for sweeps (22), kills (2,141) and assists (1,923). The 2012 team owns the school record for single-season digs (2,705).
Prior to arriving at Lewis, Smith served as assistant women's volleyball coach at the University of Central Missouri for five seasons. At Central Missouri, Smith worked under head coach Peggy Martin, the winningest coach in NCAA Division II history. The Jennies finished in the top 10 nationally and had nine All-America selections during Smith's time as an assistant.
Smith is a member of the AVCA and represents the GLVC on the AVCA Head Coaches Committee.
Smith played college volleyball at the University of North Carolina-Asheville under head coach Julie Torbett. In 2010, she was inducted into UNC Asheville's Athletics Hall of Fame. An Academic All-America selection her senior season, Smith was a four-time all-conference and two-time all-region pick. She also was a Big South Conference Scholar Athlete. Smith finished her collegiate career as the university's, conference's and region's all-time assist record holder. Her 1,852 assists in 1996 ranks ninth all-time in NCAA Division I history for the side out era (1981-2000).
Smith plays professional beach volleyball and is the Great Lakes Region Beach Volleyball Coordinator for USA Volleyball.
A native of Mishawaka, Ind., Smith is a graduate of Mishawaka High School. She received her bachelor's degree in management/marketing from UNC Asheville in 1998 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from UCM.
Smith is married to Lewis head men's volleyball coach Dan Friend and they have a daughter, Rae Analyn.
| Smith's Career Record |
| Year |
Overall
Record |
GLVC
Record |
GLVC Tournament Finish |
NCAA Finish |
| 2007 |
32-4 |
17-2 |
Champions |
Regional Final |
| 2008 |
31-8 |
16-2 |
Champions |
Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2009 |
32-5 |
14-0 |
Second |
Regional Final |
| 2010 |
27-5 |
13-1 |
Champions |
Regional Semifinals |
| 2011 |
25-7 |
15-3 |
Second |
Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2012 |
26-11 |
15-3 |
Second |
Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2013 |
24-10 |
16-2 |
Semifinals |
Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2014 |
22-8 |
14-4 |
Quarterfinals |
Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2015 |
31-5 |
15-3 |
Champions |
Regional Semifinals |
| 2016 |
29-8 |
17-1 |
Semifinals |
NCAA Final Four |
| 2017 |
33-3 |
17-1 |
Champions |
Regional Finals |
| 2018 |
29-8 |
15-3 |
Semifinals |
NCAA Final Four |
| 2019 |
28-6 |
15-3 |
Semifinals |
Regional Semifinals |
| 2020^ |
17-2 |
16-1 |
Semifinals |
No Tournament |
| 2021 |
26-7 |
17-1 |
Champions |
Regional Finals |
| 2022 |
22-9 |
8-4 |
Champions |
Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2023 |
26-7 |
11-2 |
Champions |
Regional Quarterfinals |
|
487-120 (.802) |
243-31 (.887) |
|
|
^ - The Fall 2020 season was a GLVC only schedule and was played in the Spring of 2021.
