Two years ago, Lexi Dempsey was setter at the University of Portland. After playing for the Pilots for one year, Dempsey decided to pack up and move 38 hours east to the hustle and bustle of Knoxville.
Today, Dempsey is positioning herself not only to help the Lady Vols volleyball team pick up victories, but to break a few records while she’s here.
Dempsey hails from Palm Springs, California, where she played high school volleyball and won team MVP in 2010 and 2011 for her high school. Dempsey plays setter for the Lady Vols now and said she loves calling Knoxville her home.
“It was kind of a culture shock at first, but I get used to it more and more every day,” the junior said.
The former 951 Elite player says her biggest inspiration is her mother, who played volleyball in college from 1991 to 1994. Her mother played at Creighton University before playing for Dominican University of California, where she earned conference MVP one year.
“To see her support me throughout my entire career, and athletics and academics, is probably my biggest motivator,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey’s freshman year of college was played at the University of Portland in Oregon. Her career began blossoming at Portland, as Dempsey finished second on the team with 403 assists.
After finishing her year at Portland, Dempsey decided it was time for a change of scenery.
“Throughout high school and recruiting, UT was my first choice,” Dempsey said. “I wanted to go somewhere far from home. Looking at everything UT has done athletically, especially with women, it seemed like an amazing place to be.”
After watching Dempsey play in a few club matches, head coach Rob Patrick knew how special of a player she was.
“I was excited to see that she was open about coming to Tennessee,” Patrick said. “She was someone who could play in the front row and set and put up a nice block for a setter, so I was excited about having her come to Tennessee.”
Through one year at Tennessee, Dempsey’s setting career took off. Last year, she had a total of 976 assists and 16 double-doubles, which ranked third in the SEC. Dempsey picked up double-digit assists in every one of the team’s matches last year, with her highest being 51 against ETSU. That 51 assist mark is still Dempsey’s career best.
“She’s probably been one of our most improved players easily from last year,” Patrick said. “We run a different system than they did at Portland, so her first year was learning all that. But this year, she’s really taken off in her consistency, her leadership, defense, blocking and all phases of the game. She’s really made a difference in how we play as a team.”
“Her attitude (at practice) is great. She does whatever needs to be done, and she asks the right questions … She’s really a coach’s dream in terms of being able to work with her, and I really enjoy coaching her.”
This year, Dempsey’s play has expanded tremendously. Her kill total of 130 this year will more than likely surpass her total of 131 last year. She’s projected to finish with 894 assists.
Dempsey’s extraordinary play is breaking a few records at the University of Tennessee as well. Dempsey is currently eighth all-time on the career assists total for Tennessee with 1,730 assists. She is currently behind Kelsey Mahoney’s total of 1,857. The Palm Springs native is also seventh all-time in assists per set with 8.48.
“Lexi brings a huge impact to the team,” freshman Kendra Turner said. “She’s like the heart of the team. She’s the setter, and without setting, I don’t think there’s nothing else to it.”
Although Dempsey isn’t from Tennessee, she still has the heart and determination of a Volunteer. With only one year left before she graduates, Dempsey feels she knows what it means to be a Tennessee Vol.
“Upholding the standard that people have set before you is really cool,” Dempsey said. “You’re playing for something bigger than yourself … Just the little things that Tennessee has that nowhere else has. The care and concern for women’s sports here is absolutely amazing.”
