(Editor’s note: Montana State University press release)
BOZEMAN – Montana State second-year head volleyball coach Daniel Jones announced the addition of two players to the 2018 roster. McKayla Landreth, a 6-1 middle blocker from Summerville, S.C., and Susanna Sovde, a 6-2 middle blocker from Bellevue, Wash., will play for the Bobcats next season.
Landreth transfers to MSU from New Mexico Military Institute where she guided the Broncos to a 31-12 overall mark, a Region V West Conference Tournament Championship, and a third place finish at the NJCAA Division I National Championships.
“We are over the moon to have McKayla joining us,” Jones said. “We are going to look to her to provide maturity and leadership.”
Last season, Landreth, who prepped at Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, S.C., registered 335 kills, averaging 2.20 per set. In addition, she hit .228 from the field and led the Broncos with 151 total blocks, averaging .99 per contest.
For the season, Landreth recorded 12 double-figure kill matches, including a season-high 13 kills on two occasions, the last coming in the final match of the year against Tyler Junior College. She tallied a season-high 11 blocks against Western Nebraska Community College. NMMI ranked No. 1 in the nation in blocking last fall.
“McKayla is a quick, explosive athlete who is going to contribute both offensively and defensively,” Jones said. “She has competed at the national championship level in the junior college ranks, so comes with big game experience that will help us in the continued rise of this program.”
In Ashley Ridge, Landreth was a three-time all-state selection and a two-time player of the year honoree.
Sovde, who prepped at Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash., is a four-year letter winner for the Knights. She also played with the Sudden Impact Volleyball Club. Sovde was a member of the 2018 Puget Sound Region Bid Tournament championship squad and was part of the 2016 Kingco 4A championship team.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Susanna join the Bobcats,” Jones said. “She is coming in from a high level club program where she has experienced competing against the best teams and players in the country, and received a great foundation in training and skill development.”
Off the court, Sovde is a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and received the Knight Valor Award for community service.
“Susanna is a highly intelligent young woman who will raise the standards of our program on and off the court,” Jones added. “She will fill a vital role for our program and we are thrilled to have her make her new home here in Bozeman.”
2017-18 Bobcat Roster Additions:
Serena Caspersen OH 6-1 Fr. Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek HS
McKayla Landreth MB 6-1 Jr. Summerville, NC/New Mexico Military Institute/Ashley Ridge HS
Carina Lehto S 5-10 So. Lempäälä, Finland/Mississippi State/Sammon Keskuslikio HS
Kaycee O’Dell MB 6-2 Fr. Glendale, AZ/Cactus HS
Susanna Sovde MB 6-2 Fr. Bellevue, WA/ Newport HS
Emma West OH 6-3 Fr. Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol HS
