LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Savannah Davison wasn't always this Savannah Davison.

Before becoming one of the most feared players in the Western Athletic Conference, the 5-10 Davison was an under-sized outside hitter that Mike Jordan stumbled upon on YouTube.

"We actually found her on YouTube, looking at other recruits," Jordan recalls. "Her size was a concern but I was intrigued by her explosiveness and then we got her on the phone and I realized how competitive she was."

Davison grew up in an apartment on the outskirts of Toronto with her mother, Barbara Byrne, who worked fulltime before moving to the suburbs prior to her freshman year of high school. As a result, Davison was extremely independent, taking public transit to school and staying on top of her academics. Her mother never had to meet with teachers once during Davison's four years at St. Mary's High School in Toronto.

She also played numerous sports growing up, excelling at track and volleyball with her athleticism apparent from a young age as she played in leagues with girls one to two years older than her.

"I knew she was going to be a great athlete since she was born," Byrne recalled. "I have this baby picture where she's laying her head on her hands and her triceps are bulging, so I just always knew."

Davison has also been extremely driven her entire life, both on the court and in the classroom. Her mother recalls the biochemistry major writing encouraging phrases on sticky notes and putting them on her mirror from as young as 10 years old.

That confidence and competitive edge has been a key component in Davison's game throughout her college career, but it hasn't always been helpful.

"Being the top dog in high school and then coming to a place like New Mexico State where everyone is the top dog, my ego wasn't loving it," said Davison.

"I remember MJ calling me her freshman year and saying 'your daughter knows who she is, which is great, but we also need her to be coachable,'" Byrne added.

Davison was not coachable her first season and she'll tell you as much herself. Coming off an ACL injury her senior year of high school, the ultra-competitive Davison was struggling with not being able to play at a school almost 2,000 miles from home.

"When I got back from the injury, all the girls in my class were ahead of me so I felt a lot of pressure to catch up," Davison said. "I was rushing myself and getting super frustrated, talking back, losing my confidence and the only thing to turn back on was rebelling. I was in my own head a lot, I was hard to talk to, I wouldn't listen to MJ but then after almost every practice I would go up and apologize."

Davison would shut down, butt heads with her coaches and teammates. That first year on campus was so tough on Davison that she almost quit or was kicked off the team multiple times.
After a conversation with her mother in which Byrne reminded Davison that she was built to overcome adversity and it would only make her stronger, Davison made the decision to stay in Las Cruces.

"I worked harder and started to work at my own pace," said Davison. "Obviously my coaches had been trying to tell me that for a while but I just thought I needed to be further long." 
Slowly but surely, the independent Davison began to trust her coaches and teammates. She started listening to Coach Jordan, opening herself up to criticism and checking her ego.

"She had to get to the point where she trusted everyone around her" said Jordan. "As soon as she started to let go and opened herself up more, her improvement started happening. We always knew she had the athletic ability, but now she's so coachable too."

She has also redirected that energy into more positive outlets, she is loud, passionate and emotive on the court. Fist-pumping violently and letting entire arenas know, yes, I am the best player on the court.

"You're not going to rein in your fastest horse," Jordan noted.

Davison burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman two seasons ago, wowing crowds with her monster hops and her rocket for a right arm. She put up solid numbers her freshman year, hitting .189 behind first-team All-WAC outside hitter Tatyana Battle.

Then, in 2019, with Battle graduated, and as the top outside hitter, Davison came into her own. She finished the season with 384 kills and hit a scorching .234 as she helped lead the Aggies to a 27-4 record, a perfect 16-0 conference run, a second-straight WAC Championship and a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance while earning First Team All-WAC honors. That transformation didn't happen overnight.

"She had to learn that what the coaches were telling her wasn't to bring her down," Byrne said. "It's to bring you up and to be the best you can be."

Davison and Jordan will both tell you she still has long way to go, both noting that she can be a force on the service line and on the block, but with two more years of eligibility remaining, she has come a long way.

"I'm much better at listening, making eye contact, absorbing constructive criticism and applying it to my game," reflected Davison.

While that part of the mission is accomplished, Davison still wants more. Both Jordan and Davison have lofty goals for Davison including more WAC Championships and All-American honors. Until then, Davison will continue to improve and dominate opponents, mid-major and Power 5 alike.
 
++NM State++