Ava Smith

Position:
Outside Hitter / Opposite
Height:
6-1
Class:
Junior
High School:
Park Tudor
Hometown:
Carmel, Ind.

Ava Smith | Outside Hitter / Right Side Hitter | Carmel, Ind. (Park Tudor) | FGCU
Will join the Cardinals during the 2026 spring semester and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

PHILLIPS ON SMITH: Ava is a high-flying pin attacker that can score at either pin. Her arm speed combined with her jump touch are going to make her a lethal weapon in the MAC next fall.

FGCU: Played the 2024 and 2025 seasons at FGCU, after redshirting for the 2023 season ... saw action in 44 matches and 130 sets over her two seasons ... helped guide the Eagles to a pair of ASUN regular season titles, as well as the 2024 ASUN Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament berth ... averaged 1.65 kills per set while hitting .226 over her career, while tallying 47 total blocks and 48 total digs ... smashed a career-high 13 kills versus Austin Peay (Oct. 19, 2025), while tallying double-digit kills in six matches ... hit .300-or-better in nine 15 total matched, including nine last season ... registered a career-high six total blocks and hit .438 (8-1-16) in a sweep at FIU (Sept. 18, 2025).

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for Kirsten Edwards at Park Tudor ... helped guide the Panthers to an 86-27 record over her four-year career ... earned PAAC Conference Player of the Year as a senior, after earning co-Player of the Year honors as a junior ... three-time First Team All-Conference and First Team All-County honoree ... earned a pair of First Team All-District honors ... earned a spot on the Indiana All-Star squad as a junior and senior ... led the team in kills in each of her final three seasons, including 467 kills and a .405 hitting percentage as a senior, 507 kills and a .361 attack percentage as a junior and 306 kills and a .342 hitting mark as a sophomore ... helped lead Park Tudor to sectional championships in each of her final two seasons.

CLUB: Played 10 years for Circle City Volleyball Club ... helped her 17s team rank first in the nation in 2022 ... her 18 Open team placed fifth at the 2023 USAV Nationals ... her 17 Open team placed fifth also placed fifth at the 2022 USAV Nationals.

WHY BALL STATE: I choose Ball State because of its great coach and winning tradition. I want to win our conference and go to the NCAA tournament.