Kelly comes to Montana looking to help take Griz from underdog to top dog

Over the last half-decade, Baylor has risen to national prominence, qualifying for three consecutive NCAA Sweet 16s and ranking among the nation's winningest volleyball programs during that span.

During a two-year period from 2019 to 2020, Baylor went 49-9, including six weeks ranked as the No. 1 team in the country and a berth in the 2019 NCAA Final Four.

In the middle of that Baylor roster was a scout-team defensive specialist named Jena Kelly.

Kelly redshirted during Baylor's historic 2019 season – her first year in Waco – and played sparingly the following season, when a shortened 2020 season led to another deep run in the NCAA tournament.

But the things she learned during those two seasons – scouting and preparing for nationally ranked opponents, training alongside All-America athletes for a team with a No. 1 next to its name, championship expectations – is what she hopes to bring to Montana.

Kelly is the newest member of the Griz volleyball team, enrolling at Montana at the start of the spring semester and practicing with the Grizzlies the past two months. The 5-8 defensive specialist has two years of collegiate experience under her belt but, because of redshirting and using the national COVID-19 waiver, can still use up to three years of collegiate eligibility.

Jena Kelly at Baylor

"When you're competing for national championships, your attention to detail is so crucial and the expectation is that you're at your best at all times," Montana head coach Allison Lawrence said. "I don't see her transferring to try to ease that but instead see her as someone who thrives in those environments and is coming here to bring that level of professionalism and drive to our gym.

"What I admire about her and her time at Baylor is how well she embraced her role, and I think she's now ready to have a bigger role, and we're looking forward to having her here."

Kelly loved her time at Baylor, getting to train on a national stage, surrounded by some of the best athletes, for one of the winningest volleyball programs. She stepped away after the 2020 season to be closer to family, but it only took her about two months to realize how much she missed what she had left.

"Being home was good and necessary in a lot of ways, but I missed volleyball so much," Kelly recalled. "I had an immediate hunger to be back."

When it was time to find a new home to continue her volleyball journey, Montana was an easy choice.

Her sister, Josi, lives in Bozeman, so she had spent some time in the Treasure State and loved all that it has to offer. And then she met the coaching staff and was immediately hooked.

"When I came on my visit, talking with Alli (Lawrence) and Dana (Hallisey) and seeing their excitement and hopes and dreams for the program, I aligned with that completely," Kelly said. "Their attitude and love for the program stuck with me, and I have a feeling that we can do some super-awesome things together."

Kelly played in just two matches for the Bears, recording a service ace and a dig in her collegiate debut, vs. Kansas, and also seeing time later that fall against Oklahoma. But while her role as a scout-team player was crucial for a Baylor team making a run at a national championship, she also believes she has more to offer.

"Playing for Baylor was absolutely incredible," Kelly said. "I learned so much about being a teammate and a team player. I got to learn from some of the best players in the country. I got to train with them and at that high level, where it's a grind every day and you're learning so much mentally and physically.

"I think that I can bring some of those attributes to Montana, and it's been cool to see that already. I can push others to bring the best out in them, and I'm learning that they can push me too. It's been great so far."

Jena Kelly NGWSD clinic

Kelly arrived to Missoula in January and is now halfway through her first semester at the University of Montana and two months into her first spring offseason with the Griz. She's starting to build friendships, get established on campus and even adjust to the weather.

Kelly, a California native, graduated in 2019 from Templeton High School. Like her collegiate journey, her prep days were winding, as well. She began high school at Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School, starting immediately at libero.

Toward the end of her freshman season, though, she suffered a concussion that led to severe headaches and pain. Later that year, during a match, she had a low-grade seizure and passed out on the court.

"From that, I developed PTSD toward volleyball," she recalled. "I was gone from the sport for two years, and fighting to play volleyball again meant overcoming that mental part."

After missing her sophomore and junior seasons, she returned for her senior year. She remembers barely making it through her first tryout back.

"I had to fight through a lot of anxiety," she said. "You go from feeling like you're a pretty good player and ahead to now having to play catch-up. It's a really humbling feeling, but it lit a fire in me to get better in such a short amount of time.

"Ultimately, volleyball is such an outlet for me, and not being able to go to that was hard. Once I was able to do it again, it kind of gave me wings again."

Kelly played outside hitter during her senior year at Templeton, and much like that senior season, she sees her current return to the court as a similar opportunity – in more ways than simply coming back from a break from the sport.

"Early on, my high school wasn't considered one of the big teams in the conference; we were a major underdog. But by my senior year. we had an incredible year and went undefeated in conference.

"Here at Montana, we're an underdog, scratching to make our name and be a winning team. I really want to see this Montana team kick some butt and make some history, and that was a big excitement in coming here. I want to be part of something big here."

The Kelly File
Baylor (2019-20): Played two seasons at Baylor, appearing in two matches at defensive specialist… Was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2019… Played in all five sets of Baylor's 2020 season opener at Kansas (Sept. 25), recording a dig and service ace… Also played one set vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 8)… Redshirted during the 2019 season, in which Baylor won a Big 12 championship, was ranked No. 1 nationally for six weeks and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

High School: Is a 2019 graduate of Templeton High School in California… Also attended Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School… Was a first-team all-league selection… Was selected to the USA Volleyball High Performance Team… Played outside hitter as a senior at Templeton, finishing second in the league… Started at libero as a freshman at Mission College Prep… Was unable to play during sophomore and junior seasons due to illness… Head coaches were Cameron Schaffer and Jessie Holder… Played club volleyball for 805 Elite Volleyball Club in California and Lone Star Volleyball Club in Dallas.

Personal: Born in Templeton, California… Parents are John Kelly and Jodi and Jacob Sampson… Jodi played volleyball and basketball at the Master's University in California… Has two older siblings, Josi and John… Majoring in business administration.

University of Montana Athletics

Kelly comes to Montana looking to help take Griz from underdog to top dog

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Jena Kelly

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