USC Sand Volleyball: Women of Troy Land Talented Transfer Alexa Strange

In their second year playing home games in the beautiful Merle Norman Stadium, the USC Trojans Sand Volleyball Program has locked in a top transfer for the upcoming season.

Her name is Alexa Strange and she is one of the nation’s top young sand volleyball players. On Tuesday, she officially left Nebraska to play under Anna Collier here in Southern California.

“Alexa will be a huge asset to our team and we are delighted that she has become a Trojan,” said coach Collier following Tuesday’s announcement. “Her years of national and international experience will help our entire team raise its level of play as we continue towards our goal of a national championship.”

The 5’11” Strange will be in the midst of her sophomore season this year, after playing both sand and indoor volleyball last season for the Cornhuskers. While it may seem like playing on both surfaces would be easy, coach Collier maintains, “transitioning from the sand is a completely different animal.”

That being said, the San Clemente High School alum has showcased her skills on both courts this past season. On the indoor scene, Strange played 25 matches at outside hitter, leading her team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. USC Women’s Volleyball team also competed in the NCAA Regional Championship last season, but lost to Texas.

After enduring the grind of indoor volleyball, she joined Kelsey Robinson to be the No. 1 pairs team on the sand, finishing the season 6-3 in dual matches.

Not only has Robinson notched collegiate experience, she revels internationally at the 2013 FIVB U21 World Championships in Croatia. Back in 2011, Strange also played alongside current sand volleyball star Cinnamon Sary at the Jose Cuervo Manhattan Open.

Strange will be a tremendous piece to a roster that finished last season losing a thrilling national semifinal at the 2013 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship. They also return Kirby Burnham, senior-to-be, from the 2013 National Championship pairs team.

As a local California prospect, Strange held a prolific prep career at San Clemente High School, earning second-team All-American honors. She finished her senior season with 321 kills and 307 assists, her team eventually losing to Dos Pueblos in the CIF Quarterfinal.

These efforts are part of an outstanding signing class for the Trojans who will also be bringing in incoming freshmen Sara Hughes of Mater Dei High School and Allie Wheeler of Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose.