UOlivet’s Smith named to All-MIAA Second Team

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The University of Olivet freshman outside hitter Payton Smith has earned 2025 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Second Team honors for women's volleyball. All-MIAA honors are based on a player's performance during the eight-match league schedule.

Smith started seven of eight matches and played in every set (29) for the Comets. She led the team and ranked first among all MIAA players with 110 kills and 3.79 kills per set. Smith, one of two freshmen on the All-MIAA teams, was second in points (115.5) and third in points per set (3.98). Her single-match high was 20 kills in a three-set win over Alma College.

"I am so proud of Payton!" said Olivet head women's volleyball coach Jenessa Hicks Neal. "As a freshman, she came in and played a huge role on our team. What I love about Payton is she is never satisfied, always working hard to do better, even after a great match. 

"She led the conference in kills per set and was second in points. Olivet is a part of a very tough conference, with very solid volleyball players and Payton stood out right away to the other coaches. That is hard thing to do even as a good player in the MIAA. I am so proud of everything she does on and off the court and I am grateful to be her coach!"

Smith played in every match and 93-of-95 sets this season. She finished the year with 309 kills, which ranks 11th all-time for a season in UOlivet history. Smith's 3.32 kills per set stands eighth in a season. She had four of the top five Comet single-match highs for kills, with a career-best 22 against Siena Heights University.