Volleyball Picks up ORU Transfer Kaia Dunford
5/18/2023 2:51:00 PM | Volleyball
Dunford is a two-time All-Summit performer and is coming off a career season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Volleyball has officially picked up another addition for the upcoming season, adding Oral Roberts transfer Kaia Dunford. The outside hitter was a three-year starter for the Golden Eagles, earning Honorable Mention All-League honors last season.
Kaia Dunford | 5'11 | Outside Hitter | Waimanalo, Hawaii | Punahou HS | Oral Roberts
2022 (Oral Roberts): Honorable Mention All-Summit League … Played and started in 30 matches … Averaged 2.91 kills and 3.13 digs per set, ranking second on the team in both categories … Logged 12 double-doubles on the year … Went for 14 kills and 17 digs in a five-set win over Missouri State on Aug. 28 … Notched a season-high-tying 24 digs, adding 10 kills against Tulsa on Sep. 9 … Logged 13 kills, 19 digs and a pair of aces in the Golden Eagles' win over Texas Tech on Sept. 16 … Sent across 12 kills on .303 hitting in a sweep of St. Thomas on Sep. 27 … Notched 16 kills and 18 digs in a win at South Dakota State on Oct. 15 … Tied a season-high with 21 kills on .373 hitting against Kansas City on Oct. 22 … Tallied eight kills and zero errors in a sweep of Western Illinois on Nov. 17 … Tied season-highs in both kills (21) and digs (24) in ORU's season finale, a five-set win over St. Thomas on Nov. 19
2021 (Oral Roberts): Named MVP of the Katrinka Crawford Invitational … Appeared in 27 of 29 matches in her sophomore campaign and made 19 starts, while totaling 82 sets played ... Racked up 211 kills for an average of 2.57 kills per set ... Totaled 231.0 points and registered a .197 attack percentage ... Scooped up 178 digs, which ranked third on the team ... Logged 24 blocks and held a .961 receive percentage ... Tallied five double-doubles, including two in a row to open the season .... Recorded a season-high for kills (20) and digs (17) in a season-opening win over Louisiana Monroe ... Posted double-figure kills seven times and reached double-figure digs eight times
2020 (Oral Roberts): Summit League All-Freshman Team … Summit League Academic Honor Roll … Appeared in all 18 matches during her first collegiate season and made 16 starts totaling 70 sets played ... Tallied six double-double efforts with the first of her career at Western Illinois (2/8) ... Ranked second on the team with 180 kills averaging 2.57 kills per set and a .153 hitting percentage ... Reached double-digit kills 10 times, including a season-best 25 at North Dakota State (2/15) ... Finished with 182 digs, the third-most on the team, averaging 2.60 digs per set ... Posted double-figure digs in nine outings with a season high of 25 at Western Illinois (2/8) ... Recorded 21 total blocks with one solo block at North Dakota State (2/14) and 20 block assists ... Registered a season-high three block assists at South Dakota (3/7) ... Added nine service aces, including four at North Dakota State (2/14) and 17 set assists
High School: Played at Punahou HS and Coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson … Earned First Team All-State honors as a senior … Guided team to runner-up finishes at Interscholastic League of Honolulu and state championships … Tallied 118 kills, 97 digs and seven aces as a senior … Finished the 2019 state tournament as the kills leader with 59, earning All-Tournament honors … Played club ball for Ku'ikahi Volleyball Club
Personal: Born June 7, 2002 in Waimanalo, Hawaii … Daughter of Dawn and Robert Dunford … Has three siblings, Kody, Kyra and Kaiwipa'aoliko … Favorite show is Bones … Also enjoys playing beach volleyball … Intends to major in biology
Why Kansas City?: "I chose Kansas City for the high-level academics, volleyball and graduate school opportunities. The coaches and supporting staff are all very supportive and invested in my development as a player on the court, the person I am off the court, and my career aspirations."