A chance encounter at the Crossroads tournament in Denver ended up making quite an impact for Sloan Lovett.
It was that Front Range volleyball tournament where members of the Sacramento State coaching staff got their first look at the dynamic 5-9 outside hitter from Durango High School. They liked what they saw.
After hearing the Hornets’ recruiting pitch and getting a look at the campus, Lovett liked what she saw, too.
Lovett recently signed on to join the Sacramento State roster this fall, giving her the chance to make her mark at the Division I level. Finally signing on the dotted line was a weight off her shoulders, too.
“I think it’s overwhelming at first, but now I’m really relieved because I know where I’m going, and I know what I’m going to do for the next four years of my life,” said Lovett, daughter of Robert and Valerie Lovett.
The two-time Southwestern League Player of the Year had her sights set on California from the get-go but wasn’t sure she’d get a look at a Division I level that typically sets its sights on more height from its outside hitters. That said, averages of 4.2 kills per set and 2.8 digs per set were hard for the Hornets to ignore.
“I was looking at all D-II schools, because I figured that’d be good for my level,” said Lovett, who began playing volleyball through the Four Corners Volleyball Club. ”But then (Sacramento State) started talking to me, and I realized they were D-I, so it was pretty exciting.”
Durango head coach Robin Oliger is confident her star will shine on college’s brightest stage. The longtime boss of DHS volleyball said she can’t wait to see how one of her prized pupils performs given the competition for playing time at the top collegiate level.
“I think she’s very capable of playing at that level, so I’m excited for her to go out there and spread her wings and play with people who will push her as well as she’ll push them,” Oliger said.
Valerie Lovett, Sloan’s mother, said part of the appeal for Sacramento State to her was the campus and the fact that head coach Ruben Volta and his staff didn’t beat around the bush when it came to her daughter.
“It was a great campus. When we did visit, they definitely didn’t waste her time,” Valerie Lovett said. “They had her taking tours to see the campus and to see the housing, and she did get to meet some of the players at that time. The campus was big, but it wasn’t anyplace where I’d think it’d be overwhelming.”
The Hornets were 17-15 overall and 10-6 in the Big Sky Conference last season, Volta’s fourth at the helm. As Sacramento State looks to improve, so, too, will Lovett, particularly on defense.
“I need to get better with my defense for college-level volleyball,” she said.
“I hope I’m just a strong person on the team.”
Oliger has helped a bevy of players advance to the college level in her tenure at DHS and knows what to expect from many of them as college freshmen. Lovett’s no different, and given the track record of both head coach and former pupil, it’d be hard to argue with the assessment.
“I think that she’s going to be successful,” Oliger said. “You know, freshman year is so hard as a player because of high expectations. ... Sloan’s been playing at a high level for a long time, so I think she knows what to expect.”
