Olga Strantzali Signs First Professional Contract
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Former University of Miami volleyball star Olga Strantzali signed her first professional contract and will join Beziers Angels in France.
Strantzali, who graduated from the University of Miami in December, is one of the greatest players in Hurricanes history. A three-time All-ACC selection, Strantzali was named the 2017 ACC Player of the Year after posting one of the most impressive statistical seasons in conference history.
The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter recorded an ACC-best 499 kills and 4.56 kills per set, numbers that ranked in the top 25 individually in the country. Strantzali also had 43 service aces and 46 blocks to accumulate 569 points in 110 sets, an average of 5.17 points per set. The outside hitter wrote her name in Miami Volleyball history after breaking the program’s record for kills in a match when she tallied 33 in a four-set victory over Louisville on Oct. 20.
Despite playing just three seasons at Miami, Strantzali’s statistics rank near the top of several statistical categories in program history. Her 1,448 kills at Miami rank third in program history, while her 4.16 kills per set are second in UM history. Strantzali is Miami’s all-time leader with 142 service aces, setting the mark in just 348 sets. Strantzali is fourth in school history with 1675.5 points, while her 4.81 points per set are second-best among all Hurricanes.
Strantzali’s accolades are impressive. In addition to her All-ACC selections, she is a two-time AVCA All-America honorable mention pick, was named the 2017 AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year and is a two-time AVCA All-East Coast Region honoree. Strantzali was a two-time All-ACC Academic selection and is likely to receive the honor again when the 2017 team is announced.
A native of Pylaia, Thessaloniki, Greece, Strantzali made two NCAA Tournament appearances with the Hurricanes. After facing Iowa State as a sophomore in 2015, Strantzali led Miami past College of Charleston and into a second round matchup against No. 2 Florida in 2017.
Strantzali also has experience in the Greek National Team program, playing with the Youth squad that finished fifth at the European Championships in 2013 and eighth in 2011. She also was the top scorer in the Balkan Championship in 2012, when Greece finished fourth. Then, in 2015, Strantzali got the call-up to the senior team for the European Volleyball League.
Her new team, Beziers, is currently in a championship race at the top of the Pro A Women’s league in France. They’re sitting at 10-1 and have just one less point than the league’s leader, RC Cannes.
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