By As a starting freshman for the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team, outside hitter Ashley Lee has already came a long way from her debut against the University of San Diego.
“It’s been a lot better because I’m more confident,” Lee said.
“I love the competition. I’ll never know everything and it’s an ongoing game.”
From owning a fashion line at age 15 to playing for a renowned volleyball program, Lee has made her presence felt on the hardwood. She’s played every game this season, recording 74 kills, the third-most on the team. Lee is also second on the team in digs with 63.
She has remained a consistent threat to the opposition, as she is currently second on the team in attacks with 199. Only star middle blocker Alexis Crimes is ahead of the unheralded freshman with 238 attacks.
Lee’s surprising success could be attributed to her various talents in other sports. She also participates in gymnastics, skiing, basketball, wakeboarding and rock climbing. Lee said she was always into gymnastics and basketball, but chose volleyball because of the competitiveness of the sport.
Lee has also played beach volleyball, representing the USA at the Federation Internationale de Volleyball Under-19 World Beach Championships. She also was a bronze medalist in the 17-open division Junior Olympics.
Lee is fashionable on and off the court. She is the co-founder of a clothing line called Smash, which was started with her sister, Krystal.
“I love fashion and clothes,” Lee said. “My sister and I were tomboys, but as we grew up, we got into fashion. We always did all [these] designs and drawings.”
“I am in a family that is involved in fashion,” Lee said. “My brother is a photographer.”
The Hacienda, Calif., native lettered in volleyball for four years and led Wilson High School to a league championship and CIF championship in her senior year. Selected as a prep volleyball All-American, Lee came in as one of five freshmen for the season. However, she is the first freshman to play as a consistent starter since Crimes three years ago.
Despite feeling nervous in her first game as a 49er, Lee played as if she had been with the team for prior seasons. She has held her own with the more experienced attackers like Crimes and junior outside hitter Quincy Verdin.
Despite the early losses, Lee was surprisingly consistent in her efforts against San Diego and Stanford, two of the top teams in the nation, recording 16 kills in the first two matches. Crimes, currently seventh in career kills, had 20 in her first two matches as a freshman.
Lee showed the team and her opponents that her first two matches were no fluke and produced big at the St. John’s Tournament in Jamaica, N.Y., where she had three straight double-doubles. This trend would come back with her to The Walter Pyramid against No. 8-ranked Washington, where she had her fourth double-double.
Lee’s competitiveness and talent has helped keep LBSU in contention with some of the best in women’s volleyball. It has all revolved around having a fashionable approach to every play on the court.
Lee currently does not control the Smash clothing line. She said NCAA regulations restrict her from engaging in the business. As her sister manages the clothing business, Lee hopes to return to her role following her time at LBSU.
“I would like to be a stylist,” Lee said. “Maybe later, I can do Smash.”
But right now, Lee is a smash on the volleyball court.
