Women’s volleyball senior Olivia Lasee find her place as a full-time starter

Women’s volleyball senior Olivia Lasee started four matches as a sophomore. Last season, she started all 26, finishing fifth on the team with 111 kills and led Lehigh with a .274 hitting percentage.

The middle blocker’s rise to full-time starter began when a graduating teammate left the spot open.

But the opportunity alone didn’t make Lasee a Patriot League stand-out. She said she credits focus and repetition for her success.

“It just takes discipline and time, a lot of commitment to doing extra reps every day,” Lasee said. “You just have to trust that you’ll make progress over time.”

Her commitment paid off last season, as she finished with leading Lehigh’s hitting percentage, and ranking among the Patriot League’s top hitters. Hitting percentage measures attacking efficiency by subtracting a player’s errors from her kills and dividing by her total attempts.

Lasee said she credits head coach Shawn McLaughlin’s system for much of her improvement.

“(McLaughlin) has done a great job coaching the team,” Lasee said. “It all kind of starts with a pass, and then I’m one of the last people to contact the ball.”

McLaughlin said Lasee’s growth stems directly from her approach to the game, as she comes in for extra film and practice, applying the coaching she receives quickly. He also said her understanding of the game extends beyond her physical skill set.

“(Lasee) understands the game,” McLaughlin said. “She brings a really nice volleyball IQ to us. Her work ethic combined with her mental work ethic has put her in a really good position to lead our team.”

Senior right-side hitter Jaidyn Garcia, who’s played alongside Lasee since their first year, said her work ethic has defined Lasee since before she ever started a match.

“Even though she wasn’t on the court or starting, she was always working hard during practice, coming in for extra reps,” Garcia said. “That has not changed from freshman year to senior year.”

Garcia said Lasee’s increased playing time has translated into her becoming a vocal leader on the team.

“Being on the court more, being a senior, it gives you more confidence to be outspoken and be a leader,” Garcia said.

Off the court, Lasee helps run a Bible study for student-athletes through Cru, a Christian ministry organization.

She said there are a few student-athletes that run it, so they all know the process and difficulties that come with involvement.

“We’re able to lean on each other in that, so it’s not too difficult to manage,” Lasee said.

Lasee said her faith shapes how she treats the people around her, including on the court.

“It plays a big part in how I treat my teammates and my opponents, trying to treat them well at all times,” Lasee said. “It doesn’t really matter how I end up performing, because at the end of the day, I’m still a child of God, and that’s what defines me, not my performance.”

Garcia, who shares Lasee’s faith, said her steadfast beliefs have stood out to her over the years. Garcia said it can be hard to keep faith a priority when classes and games get in the way, but Lasee does a good job of balancing everything.

As a mechanical engineering major, earned Academic All-Patriot League honors last season, she said managing both academic and athletics demands requires sacrifice.

“You’re not able to do everything that you want to do, and it’s just a matter of deciding what goes and what stays,” Lasee said.

She offered advice to younger student athletes as well, saying not to be afraid to ask for help.

Lasee said that can mean leaning on teammates, asking questions about classes or signing up for tutoring.

Garcia said Lasee’s ability to balance a demanding major with Division I athletics speaks for itself.

“She’s always doing homework, always studying,” Garcia said. “Her ability to balance that while also being able to practice and go to games, do well in her exams, and have fun on the weekends — it’s just very admirable.”

Reflecting on her four years at Lehigh, Lasee said she’s found ways to regulate stress in different aspects of her life, allowing her to grow a lot athletically in the past year.

“On the court, I’ve grown a lot as an attacker, especially this past spring,” Lasee said. “Off the court, I’ve gotten a lot calmer, less anxious, less worried; I think that’s part of growing in my faith.”