A large cheering section wielding signs and wearing T-shirts that read “We Dig AshLee” or “Go SmashLee” have been seen at women’s volleyball home matches for the past year. Through the first four home contests of the 2010 season, however, the player for whom those encouraging words were intended for was missing from the Walter Pyramid floor.
That’s because Long Beach State’s starting setter, Ashley Lee, was nursing a broken pinkie on her right hand. She returned to practice Sept. 6 and said just the sight of a volleyball on her fingertips was “exciting.”
“I’ve never been happier to pass a free ball,” said a smiling Lee, who made her season debut against then-No. 25 San Diego on Sept. 10.
Leading the cheers in the stands were her family, whose company, Graphic Motion, designed custom T-shirts last year. Soon enough, the family’s friends were wearing them.
“They asked, ‘Can we have a shirt?'” her father, Norm, said. “They kept [saying], ‘We should all have an Ashley Lee T-shirt.'”
The group of supporters at every home contest also includes club volleyball teams coached by the 5-foot-9 senior.
“They’ve turned into our family,” her mother, Jeanne, said.
The 20-year-old Lee said her volleyball interest started around 11 years old while watching her sister play, and with a little encouragement from dad.
“My dad, of course, was like, ‘Ashley, just pass with me, pass with me,'” she recalled. “It became not a habit, but something I loved.
“Ever since he started that, every time there was a ball somewhere we’d play. And, then, if there wasn’t a ball, we had one in the car.”
The Wilson High School (Hacienda, Calif.) graduate said she was first noticed by LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro and former assistant Debbie Green while playing in club volleyball tournaments.
In each of her first three seasons, Lee’s role for the 49ers was altered. But she said the position changes didn’t bother her, as long as she was just on the court.
“I’m always ready for anything,” Lee added. “I love playing every position.”
The La Habra Heights native started her career at The Beach as a back-row player and flourished.
Lee, who started every set of all 33 matches during her freshman season, finished second on the team in both digs (348) and assists (114) en route to Big West Conference All-Freshman honors. She was especially vital to the 49ers’ biggest win that season, a five-set upset over a No. 8 Florida team that came into the Walter Pyramid with a 27-1 record.
“There are the teams you get to play that push you, that challenge you,” said Lee, who was one of three ‘Niners that night to record a team-leading 18 kills, which is still her career high.
Gimmillaro moved Lee to the outside hitter position the following year, but she didn’t have quite the storybook sophomore campaign. On the eve of her 19th birthday, Lee’s season ended when she partially tore the posterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a home match against Cal State Fullerton, and was forced to miss the NCAA tournament.
“Every night was horrible,” Lee said. “Not only could I not play volleyball, I couldn’t even walk to class without taking two hours to get there. It was extremely draining.”
It was just as hard on her parents.
“Once your child gets hurt, you’re hurt, too,” Lee’s mother said.
After months of physical therapy and a move to the setter position, Lee bounced back with a stellar junior season capped off by a first-team All-Big West selection. She played in all 116 sets, racked up 1,232 assists and finished third in the conference with 10.62 assists per set.
After a minor setback in her return to the court in 2010, Lee helped LBSU move up to No. 23 in the national poll with an upset victory over then-No. 14 Colorado State last Friday. In the team’s most recent victory over Denver, the senior displayed her all-around repertoire with 43 assists, 10 digs and six kills.
Last week, Lee moved into ninth place all-time on LBSU’s career assists list with 1,633 and is within reach to finish her career in the eighth spot occupied by Joy McKienzie (1,743). She also will soon join another career top-10 list, needing just three digs to match former teammate Iris Murray (946).
But it’s not about just accolades on the court for Lee.
“I’ve learned to mature through volleyball,” she said. “It really helps with your pride, your discipline, playing under pressure, your emotions. It’s more than just learning how to play a sport.”
With a talented but young squad, a determined Lee said the pieces are in place to clear at least one NCAA tournament obstacle that the 49ers have been unable to overcome in her first three seasons.
“We’re going to work as hard as we can to make it past [at least] the second round,” she said.
And watching behind the team’s bench in support will be her family — both immediate and extended.
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