CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia volleyball head coach Shannon Wells announced the addition of Ciera “CiCi” Hecht, a transfer outside hitter from Texas A&M, on Friday (June 16). Hecht is set to begin training with the Cavaliers this summer.
“In our game, we label CiCi as a ‘baller,’” said Wells. “She is an incredible athlete with a big jump and understanding of how to score points, but can also play the backrow like a libero. Throughout her career at TAMU, she always found her way onto the court. We are excited to welcome CiCi to Charlottesville in just a couple of weeks and witness the immediate impact she can make for us on and off the court.”
Hecht comes to UVA with one season of eligibility remaining after a four-year stint with the Aggies from 2019-22. During her tenure at A&M, Hecht competed in 64 matches, including 20 starts, and logged 198 kills and 267 digs. Last year, she tallied 10 kills to help the Aggies in their five-set win over Tennessee. In 2021, Hecht recorded a career-high 15 kills and 22 digs against Ole Miss. She posted another double-double against Georgia when she tallied 10 kills and 13 digs. Hecht also tied the Aggies’ single match service aces record when she fired off eight points from behind the endline against Alabama in the spring of 2021. She earned her undergraduate degree from A&M in political science this past spring.
A native of Prosper, Texas, Hecht attended Prosper High School, where she was a two-time all-state standout. In 2018, she was named an honorable mention All-American by Under Armour and PrepVolleyball.com. Hecht guided the Eagles to the 2017 UIL 5A state championship. Despite breaking her wrist in the third set, she was named Tournament MVP and recorded the match-winning kill in extra points of the fifth set. In 2016 – her sophomore year – Hecht was named the District 14-5A Defensive Player of the Year.
On the club circuit, Hecht competed for Texas Advantage Volleyball Club from 2018-19, the former program of UVA junior setter Ashley Le. In 2019, she led TAV to first-place finishes at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships, Tour of Texas and Northeast Qualifier.
Both of Hecht’s parents, Steve and Laura Hecht, attended Oral Roberts University where her father played baseball and her mother played volleyball and basketball. Steve was drafted in the fifth round of the 1987 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants before embarking on an eight-year playing career in the…