Former Chattanooga Mocs volleyball standout and All-Southern Conference selection Allie Davenport continues her successful professional career across the pond, recently signing with Saint Die des Vosges in France for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
The signing marks the third different country where Davenport has competed on the professional level since graduating from Chattanooga in 2016. An outside hitter, she finished third all-time in aces (142), fifth in points (1,372.5), and sixth in kills (1,065).
"I never really knew anyone who went and played overseas," said Davenport on the Mocs on the Mic podcast with Chris Goforth.
"I went into college thinking that these were going to be the last four years of volleyball.
"It's crazy how it's all worked out."
Initially, the Tyrone, Ga., native began her European career at the University of East London in 2017, where she received a master's degree in Media, Communications and Global Development. Following the British University & Colleges Sport (BUCS) season, she played for an English city league team, Mallory Eagles, and captured a league title.
Moving on in her career, Davenport joined the professional ranks and signed with the Lund VK club in Lund, Sweden in May of 2018. She finished second in league scoring in the team's first season competing in the Elite series.
"I loved the leadership role I had on the team there. It was really cool for my first real pro experience to have that because a lot of people don't get that in their first year," added Davenport on the podcast.
"I had to grow up fast. I was a rookie, but wasn't a rookie at the same time on this team."
Following the success in Sweden, Davenport represented the United States at a professional tournament in Vietnam and helped lead the team to a runner-up finish in May of 2019.
Before the France signing, she signed with the Groupe E Valtra club in Couvet, Switzerland in August 2019 and continued to shine. Before the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short in the playoffs, Davenport shined and ranked second on the team in scoring for the season.
Maneuvering during a pandemic while in foreign territory proved to be an interesting process. Bouncing from Switzlerand, to Paris, to Copenhagen, to Sweden, and many stops in between, it became an unforgettable experience and story.