CHATTANOOGA --- Another day, another addition to the 2024 Chattanooga indoor volleyball roster for head coach Julie Torbett Thomas as the team is happy to announce the signing of Missouri State outside hitter Breanah Rives, Coach Torbett Thomas revealed on Thursday.
A rising sophomore, Rives brings a wealth of experience to UTC with her after her most recent stop at Missouri State saw her claim a spot on the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team. Rives was also named to the Bear Invitational All-Tournament Team after finishing the tournament with a total of 47 kills (15.67 kills/match), 42 digs (14 digs/match) and four blocks (1.33 blocks/match) on the weekend.
"Breanah is a fantastic addition to our program," Coach Torbett Thomas said. "She is bringing in a wealth of experience and we look to capitalize on her killer instincts and great fundamentals.
What stands out the most about Bre is her genuine love for volleyball and her desire to learn and be the best she can be. She thrives in an environment that actively trains players and where coaches push her to reach her full potential."
Rives' rookie campaign at MSU saw her finish the year ranked third on the team in kills/set (2.62), tallying a total of 257 kills on the year after playing in just 98 of the team's 122 sets on the season. Rives added an additional 176 digs (1.80 digs/set), 33 blocks (0.34 blocks/set), 13 aces and 13 assists to her stat line enroute to receiving her All-MVC nod.
Her nine double-doubles during the 2023 season not only ranked as the second-most on her team, but also marked the most by a Missouri State freshman in a season since 2018. At one point Rives strung together five consecutive double-doubles for the Bears, a streak that included her logging career-high totals in kills (19 vs. Arkansas State on 9/16) and digs (20 at Valparaiso on 9/22).
Prior to joining Missouri State, Rives was a prep star in her hometown of Naples, Florida, having been a varsity starter for six total years including two seasons at First Baptist Academy followed by four seasons at Seacrest Country Day School. A multi-time Player of the Year award winner at numerous levels and outlets and a two-time Florida Class 2 state champion, Rives ended up finishing her career as the Sunshine State's high school all-time leader in kills, having tallied 2,130 in her career.
Rives even received national recognition for her efforts in high school, having been an AVCA Second Team All-American during her senior campaign. Going all the way back to her freshman days, Rives was named a finalist for the 2019 Prep Volleyball National Freshman of the Year award after logging 417 kills with a .395 hitting percentage on the year. While this was her official "freshman" campaign, Rives had already had two seasons of varsity volleyball under her belt including an eight grade year where she was a finalist for the Naples Daily News Volleyball Player of the Year award.
Born June 23, 2004, Breanah is the daughter of Ricardo and Noel Rives. She also has three older siblings: Alyssa (sister), Zechariah (brother) and Noah (brother). Zechariah is a four-year letterwinner with the Southeastern University wrestling team, having wrestled for the Fire from 2015-19. Rives intends on majoring in either criminal justice or communication whilst attending UTC.
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