2019 (Senior Year): Forewent her senior season due to recurrent injuries.
2018 (Junior Year): Appeared in 22 matches, covering 60 sets … ranked six on the team in hitting percentage (.223) and kills (141) … reached double-digit kills on five occasions, including a season-high 13 at Georgia (8/25) … Hit at a season-high clip of .400 in ISU’s win against Stony Brook (9/7) … collected 23 digs on the season, including a trio of digs in four different matches … contributed 22.0 blocks on the season, including a season-high four at Drake (10/6).
2017 (Sophomore Year): Appeared in 29 matches with 14 starts, covering 86 sets … ranked fifth on her team in hitting percentage (.180) and third in kills per set (2.16) … finished sixth in total kills (186) … registered a career-high 16 kills and 18.5 points versus UNI (10/27) … reached double figures in kills a career-best eight times … collected a career-high 10 digs at Bradley (11/11) … matched a career-high two assists against Loyola (10/6) … tabulated a season-high four blocks against UNI (10/27) … tallied a service ace at Southern Illinois (10/20).Â
2016 (Freshman Year): Appeared in 26 matches with 11 starts, covering 81 sets … named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team … ranked fourth on her team in kills per set (2.02) and fifth in total kills (164) … made collegiate debut at Loyola Marymount (8/26) … made first collegiate start against Miami (Ohio) (9/2) … tallied first career kill versus Niagara (8/27) … registered first career digs against UCLA (8/27) … collected a career-high 14 kills and 15.0 points against Rice (9/3) … reached double figures in kills six times … collected a career-high nine digs against Miami (Ohio) (9/2) … dished out a career-high two assists at Drake (10/3) … accumulated a career-best five blocks at Indiana State (10/28) … posted two aces in three matches … earned a varsity letter … named to the MVC and AFNI honor rolls.
Prior Lake HS: Four-year member and three-year starter for the volleyball team … holds school’s career kills record, with 929 … earned MNVBCA Class AAA First-Team All-State status senior year and was named a Miss Baden Finalist … three-time all-conference selection … named team’s most valuable player as a senior … served as team captain as a senior … named to the Star Tribune All-Metro First Team as a senior … helped her team to a combined 75-14 record over her final three seasons, including the best record in school history (27-3) as a junior … team achieved a No. 1 state ranking in each of her final two seasons … team won 17-consecutive matches as a senior … team won conference title with an undefeated league record as a junior … also competed as a member of school’s track and field team, where she was a two-time all-state selection … was also named the team’s MVP as a junior … named to the dean’s list every semester … named a board scholar three times … earned academic all-state honors … named an Associated Press Distinguished Scholar.
Personal: Ella Rae Francis … born April 20, 1998 … daughter of Scott and Deanna Francis … has two older siblings, Taylor and Carter … majoring in molecular and cellular biology.