University of South Alabama Athletics

Ranks fourth on USA’s career digs list with 1,242 and leads the program in career digs average (3.76) entering her final collegiate season.

AT SOUTH ALABAMA
SENIOR SEASON (2013): Missed all of the 2013 campaign and received a medical redshirt after tearing ligaments in her knee during the summer.

JUNIOR SEASON (2012): Started 29 of the program’s 30 matches at the libero position, missing her only start due to injury…Despite missing the start, managed to still compete in every set (116) - one of four Jaguar players to do so…Led club and ranked sixth in the Sun Belt in digs with 4.05 per set - second-most ever by a Jag in a single season…Her 470 digs were also the fourth-most by a player in a season…Registered double-figure dig tallies in 25 matches for USA, including six of 20 or more…Set a new career-high with 33 digs in a five-set match versus Georgia State (9/8) at the Georgia State Invitational…Became the first Jaguar to ever garner SBC Defensive Player of the Week honors (9/10)…The honor also marked just the fifth time a South Alabama player has earned a SBC player of the week honor and the first since Juliana Almeida who was chosen the SBC’s Player of the Week back on Sept. 6, 2010…Selected to two all tournament teams - Southern Miss Invitational and the Active Ankle Challenge hosted by Saint Louis…Also posted 27 digs at Florida International (11/10) and 26 digs versus Mercer (9/7) at the Georgia State Invitational and vs. Jackson State (10/24)…Averaged 6.00 dps in USA’s straight-set win over Southern Miss (8/24) at the Southern Miss Invitational…Also recorded 13 aces, seven kills and 81 assists during the season…Selected as a member of the Mortar Board - the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service…Served as President of the USA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council…Selected to the Sun Belt Conference Leadership Team, which is given to a “letterwinning” student-athlete, based on leadership, sportsmanship, community service, citizenship, academic excellence and any other qualities valued by the institution.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2011): Started all 28 matches for the Jaguars at the libero position and was one of three players to compete in all 99 sets…Led the team and ranked seventh in the Sun Belt Conference in digs with 3.68 digs per set…Her dps average was a then fifth-best for a single-season in the program’s history and her 364 digs were 10th most at that time…Led the club in digs in 17 matches and finished with double-figure tallies in that category 21 times…Posted a career-best 29 digs versus Tulane (9/17) at the Kathy Trosclair Memorial Tournament…Her 29 digs against the Green Wave tied for fifth-most by a Sun Belt player during the 2011 season…Also added four kills, 80 assists and 18 service aces…Selected as the recipient of the Female Jaguar Athletic Fund Award, which goes to the student-athlete who best exemplifies enthusiasm and support for the total athletic program at the athletic department’s Pete Tolbert Night of Champions awards ceremony during the spring of 2012…Served as Vice-President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at USA…Named to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2010): Made an immediate impact in the defensive backcourt in her first collegiate season…Competed in all 32 matches and moved into the starting libero position at South Alabama’s fourth tourney…Led the team and ranked eighth in the Sun Belt in digs with 3.55 digs per set - 408 total…Her 408 digs ranked seventh-most for a single season at USA and the second-highest tally by a freshman…Averaged 3.86 digs per set in conference play…Had 21 double-digit matches, including six with 20 or more…Posted season-high 27 digs at Troy (10/15)…Had seven matches with two or more aces…Ranked second on the club with 25 aces…Was one of two players to play in all 115 sets…Also had six kills and 30 assists…Named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List.

AT NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered four years in volleyball at Niceville High School in Niceville, Fla., and was a three-year starter…Played with former Jag Jennica Hagberg and was coached by Chris Hagberg…Over her four-year career, helped lead the Eagles to 100 regular-season wins and only 10 regular-season losses - including a perfect 30-0 district record…Led NHS in digs each of her final three seasons and ended her prep career as the program’s all-time digs leader with 931…As a senior, recorded 357 digs - the school’s single season record - and had a dig percentage of 91.32…Also set the single-match mark for digs at Niceville with 23 that same season…Was named the Volleyball Player of the Year by the Northwest Florida All-Sports Association as a senior and led the Eagles to a fifth-place finish in the 5A state playoffs…Earned first-team all-district honors as a senior and as a junior, while helping Niceville to three-straight district championships…Finished with 281 digs as a junior and 267 digs as a sophomore…Also lettered one season in softball at NHS…Played two years of club ball as a defensive specialist for Gulf Coast Select based out of Niceville, Fla., and helped them finish fifth out of 68 teams at the AAU National tournament in 2009.

PERSONAL: Jenna Rene Hassell…Born in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla…Daughter of Scott and Sandy Hassell…Has one older sister…Father played baseball at Pensacola Junior College…Favorite movie is “Mean Girls”…Favorite book is “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan…Favorite professional sports team is the Atlanta Braves…Favorite types of foods are Mexican and Italian…Favorite musical artists are Charlie Hall and Dave Matthews Band…During the summer of 2010, went on a mission trip with her church to Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico…Graduated in May 2014 with a bachelor's of arts degree in communications...Currently working on her master's degree in education leadership.