Colorado University Athletics
Alexa Smith Signs Contract with Beziers Angels
June 04, 2019 | Volleyball
BOULDER – Colorado volleyball alum Alexa Smith has signed her first professional volleyball contract with the Beziers Angels in Bezier, France, Smith announced Monday.
The Angels are the defending French Champions in the Ligue A Feminine Volley, taking the title in a five-set win in 2018. Former Buff Nicole Edelman was a part of the championship squad and plays for the team this season as well. The team also won a title in the Nationale 1B in the inaugural season of 1997 and took the Nationale 1 title in 2010.
Smith, an AVCA All-American, finished her career this season with top-10 marks in school history in kills and attacks and is top-30 in school history in digs and aces. She is also the second Colorado-native and 16th player in school history to hit 1,000 career kills, doing so in just three seasons with Colorado. Smith is listed as a receiver and attacker and will likely be a six-rotation outside for the Angels.
Q/A with Smith:
What does it mean to you to continue your career overseas?
"I'm really excited to continue my career. I feel like I've put a lot of time training and time in general into volleyball so I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue playing and not have to stop yet."
What does the season and atmosphere look like in France?
"I'll be playing for the Beziers Angels. It is a team in southern France and the league over there is called the LNV. I'm not exactly sure how it works, my understanding is that we will play league in France and travel around and play other teams outside of that in playoffs. From what I've seen, volleyball is huge over there and there is a really big fan support there. In the Beziers gym it seems crowded every game and they have a band, so there is really good support over there which is awesome."
Why did you choose to join the Bezier Angels?
"I had a few options come up but this seemed like the best fit. A former CU player, Nicole Edelman, actually played on this team last year and so I talked to her a lot when I was going through the recruiting process looking at different teams. She seemed to really enjoy it and it was a great area, so out of the options I had this seemed like the best fit."
What would it be like to play with Nicole Edelman?
"I'm unsure if Nicole will play with me. It is interesting how they do it. During the season they will be recruiting players like they did with me. They usually wait until after season to renew contracts with current players so I haven't heard yet if she has signed or not. I would love to play with Nicole, she's a stud and a great player. I think she did really well this last season so it'd be awesome to have another Buff abroad with me. Obviously, she has to do what is best for her, so if it doesn't work out this season that's ok too."
The Beziers won the French Championships last season, what will it be like joining such a strong squad?
"I'm really excited to be joining such a strong team. I think they have a really good reputation and even my agent was saying for a rookie contract this is a really good starting point. I am really grateful for the opportunity to be playing for such a strong team in my very first season."
What are you most nervous about?
"I've actually never been to Europe so I'm about to move over there for 10 months and kind of be there permanently. I'm a little nervous about being abroad and being away from America and my family in general. I think it will be a really good experience and a great way to step up my game in volleyball and continue to play the game I love. Hopefully I can travel around and see a bit of the world."
What are you most excited about?
"I think the culture will be very different which makes me excited. Playing volleyball has given me the opportunity to see different parts of the world. I've seen Guatemala and Thailand and China and so this will be another place I get to see. I'm really excited to meet different people and experience the culture over there."
Do you have any travel plans or place you want to see?
"I don't have any yet. I am going to take it day by day and see when we have free time and stuff. Obviously if we do have down time or free time I'd love to travel and see different things around there. I think my family is planning on the same thing so hopefully they can come and visit and we can travel together. I want to see different parts of France. I'd love to see Paris and Barcelona is close and I'd love to go there. Italy is also pretty close so there will be some cool places to see."
The Angels are the defending French Champions in the Ligue A Feminine Volley, taking the title in a five-set win in 2018. Former Buff Nicole Edelman was a part of the championship squad and plays for the team this season as well. The team also won a title in the Nationale 1B in the inaugural season of 1997 and took the Nationale 1 title in 2010.
Smith, an AVCA All-American, finished her career this season with top-10 marks in school history in kills and attacks and is top-30 in school history in digs and aces. She is also the second Colorado-native and 16th player in school history to hit 1,000 career kills, doing so in just three seasons with Colorado. Smith is listed as a receiver and attacker and will likely be a six-rotation outside for the Angels.
Q/A with Smith:
What does it mean to you to continue your career overseas?
"I'm really excited to continue my career. I feel like I've put a lot of time training and time in general into volleyball so I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue playing and not have to stop yet."
What does the season and atmosphere look like in France?
"I'll be playing for the Beziers Angels. It is a team in southern France and the league over there is called the LNV. I'm not exactly sure how it works, my understanding is that we will play league in France and travel around and play other teams outside of that in playoffs. From what I've seen, volleyball is huge over there and there is a really big fan support there. In the Beziers gym it seems crowded every game and they have a band, so there is really good support over there which is awesome."
Why did you choose to join the Bezier Angels?
"I had a few options come up but this seemed like the best fit. A former CU player, Nicole Edelman, actually played on this team last year and so I talked to her a lot when I was going through the recruiting process looking at different teams. She seemed to really enjoy it and it was a great area, so out of the options I had this seemed like the best fit."
What would it be like to play with Nicole Edelman?
"I'm unsure if Nicole will play with me. It is interesting how they do it. During the season they will be recruiting players like they did with me. They usually wait until after season to renew contracts with current players so I haven't heard yet if she has signed or not. I would love to play with Nicole, she's a stud and a great player. I think she did really well this last season so it'd be awesome to have another Buff abroad with me. Obviously, she has to do what is best for her, so if it doesn't work out this season that's ok too."
The Beziers won the French Championships last season, what will it be like joining such a strong squad?
"I'm really excited to be joining such a strong team. I think they have a really good reputation and even my agent was saying for a rookie contract this is a really good starting point. I am really grateful for the opportunity to be playing for such a strong team in my very first season."
What are you most nervous about?
"I've actually never been to Europe so I'm about to move over there for 10 months and kind of be there permanently. I'm a little nervous about being abroad and being away from America and my family in general. I think it will be a really good experience and a great way to step up my game in volleyball and continue to play the game I love. Hopefully I can travel around and see a bit of the world."
What are you most excited about?
"I think the culture will be very different which makes me excited. Playing volleyball has given me the opportunity to see different parts of the world. I've seen Guatemala and Thailand and China and so this will be another place I get to see. I'm really excited to meet different people and experience the culture over there."
Do you have any travel plans or place you want to see?
"I don't have any yet. I am going to take it day by day and see when we have free time and stuff. Obviously if we do have down time or free time I'd love to travel and see different things around there. I think my family is planning on the same thing so hopefully they can come and visit and we can travel together. I want to see different parts of France. I'd love to see Paris and Barcelona is close and I'd love to go there. Italy is also pretty close so there will be some cool places to see."
Players Mentioned
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