Volleyball

Former University of Illinois volleyball player Danielle Davis served as a Santa Clara volleyball volunteer assistant coach for one season in 2019.

Davis helped head coach Erin Lindsey and the Broncos produce a stellar campaign during Lindsey's first season at the helm in 2019. Santa Clara went 21-12 overall (10-8 WCC), reached the postseason for the first time since 2015 and won its first postseason match since 2008 with an opening-round victory at Long Beach State in the NIVC. The Broncos, who logged a 15-win improvement compared to the previous year, also won 20 matches for the first time since 2015. Santa Clara took fourth place in the conference after being picked to finish ninth in the preseason coaches poll. The team's 10-3 nonconference record marked its best start through 13 matches since 2014. Santa Clara was the only WCC program to win 10 matches in nonconference play, which included victories in all six neutral site tournament tilts.

Taylor Odom led the NCAA and set a program record with 196 total blocks, the most in any era in Bronco history and good for fourth all-time in the WCC. Odom became Santa Clara’s first AVCA All-Pacific North Region selection since 2015 and garnered First Team All-WCC honors. Santa Clara led the WCC with 326.5 total blocks (10th NCAA) and 2.63 blocks/set (22nd NCAA), while holding opponents to a .168 hitting percentage (2nd WCC, 32nd NCAA). The Broncos also excelled in the classroom by matching a program best with five WCC all-academic honorees, including three student-athletes on the WCC All-Academic Team for the first time since 2005.

During Davis' time with the Broncos, Santa Clara produced one AVCA all-region selection, five all-WCC accolades and five WCC all-academic nods.

Davis, hired in June 2019, worked primarily to develop Santa Clara’s liberos and defensive players, among other tasks. 

The Bloomington, Illinois native joined the Broncos after earning master’s degrees in sports administration (2019) and business administration (2018) from Ohio University. In 2017, Davis served as a volunteer assistant coach for Bobcat volleyball and an assistant coach for the Illini Elite Volleyball Club 17 Cardinal team that won the 17 Open AAU National Championship.

Illinois reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 three times in four years with Davis on the roster. The defensive specialist played in 114 matches with 72 starts and logged 798 digs for her career. Davis was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a 2016 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (awarded for maintaining a 3.7 GPA or higher for the academic year). Bronco head coach Erin Lindsey was an assistant at Illinois when Davis was a senior in 2016.

Davis studied kinesiology as an undergraduate student at Illinois. She worked as an ARC personal trainer at her alma mater and a strength and conditioning intern at the University of Kansas.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of the Santa Clara volleyball program,” Davis said upon being hired. “Erin was an invaluable mentor and coach to me as an athlete at the University of Illinois. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to continue to learn, grow, and develop personally and professionally under her leadership as well as the entire Bronco staff. Their exceptional experience and knowledge creates a championship environment I am eager to be a part of.” 

Head Coach Erin Lindsey on Davis: "We are so excited to welcome Dee to our staff. Her experience competing at the highest level of NCAA volleyball as a student-athlete in the Big Ten will allow her to be an exceptional role model and resource for our team, especially our passers and defenders. She shares our passion for facilitating an environment where our student-athletes can develop as athletes and grow as individuals. I also really value the education and experience she brings from her time at Ohio in administration and with Kansas strength and conditioning."