Trailblazing libero, who was also the school’s first Division I signee, joins Syracuse University for her graduate season
Charleston, SC — Anna Smith, a 2023 graduate of Oceanside Collegiate Academy, is preparing for a season that will once again put her name in the school’s record book. Smith has joined the Syracuse University volleyball program as a graduate student, becoming the first volleyball player in Oceanside Collegiate Academy history to compete at a Power Four institution and in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
It is the second first of her career. Four years ago, Smith became the first volleyball player in program history at Oceanside Collegiate Academy to sign with an NCAA Division I school — a signing that opened a door for the Landsharks’ program and for volleyball players across the Lowcountry.
A 5-foot-8 defensive specialist and libero from Charleston, Smith will wear No. 14 for the Orange under head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam.
“Oceanside (Collegiate Academy) provided me a platform to begin my college academic career in high school while simultaneously providing a competitive high school volleyball program with a college style class schedule that allowed me to compete on a nationally competitive club volleyball team in the spring which required national travel. That allowed me to graduate a year early from Coastal Carolina and enabled me to come to Syracuse as a graduate student and compete in the ACC.”
From the Lowcountry to the ACC
Smith’s rise began early. She earned a varsity roster spot at Oceanside Collegiate Academy as a freshman and helped anchor a defense that reached four consecutive South Carolina state championship matches, winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
Her high school résumé also includes selection to the USA Volleyball Youth National Team POol, AVCA All-American honors, a place on the Phenom Watchlist, and all-region recognition as a Junior and senior. A three-time AAU Academic All-American, Smith paired that on-court production with consistent classroom success. Outside of school, she played club volleyball for Carolina Rogue in Columbia and later for Rio Volleyball Club in Atlanta, earning a bid to USA Volleyball Nationals.
Smith spent her first three collegiate seasons at Coastal Carolina winning the Sunbelt Conference Division, Conference, Conference Tournament and earned a NCAA Tournament sport her freshman season, and appearing in 58 matches across 222 sets. She recorded 174 digs, 39 assists, eight service aces and two kills for the Chanticleers, with a career-high eight digs in a match on multiple occasions — including outings against ACC opponents NC State and Virginia. She was named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List and earned Coastal Carolina Honor Roll recognition three times.
In 2025, Smith attended the USA Women’s National Team Open Camp.
2026 Season Ahead
Syracuse opens the 2026 campaign on Aug. 29 against Cincinnati in Urbana-Champaign, Ill., before facing host Illinois the following afternoon. The Orange play their home opener Sept. 9 against Arkansas at the Women’s Building in Syracuse as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge, then begin conference play Sept. 25 against Louisville.
“Syracuse provides the opportunity for me to compete in the ACC with some of the best programs in the country while pursuing a graduate degree at a globally respected university.”
Lowcountry fans will have a chance to see Smith close to home this fall. Syracuse travels to Clemson on Oct. 18 for a 1 p.m. match, with additional Carolinas stops at NC State on Oct. 9 and Wake Forest on Oct. 11. The Orange close the regular season Nov. 28 at Notre Dame.
Beyond the court, Smith is a criminology and intelligence (undergraduate) and political affairs (graduate) student and a founding board member of the Sport Venture Group Foundation. She plans to build a career in diplomacy or intelligence.
The complete Syracuse schedule is available at cuse.com.