Coach Nelson on Elli Kinney… Elli put up her best serve receive numbers on our foreign tour in Japan, facing some really tough serving—that’s a direct result of the work she’s put in. Her serve has also made a big jump since joining us, and she’s a scrappy defender who finds ways to make plays. She represents the program at an elite standard, and everyone loves being around her.
Academic Honors
• 2025 CSC Academic All-District
• 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2024-25 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
As a Junior (2025)
• Appeared in 104 sets
• Led the Commodores in digs with 278, averaging 2.67 per set
• Registered a career-high 20 digs vs. South Carolina
• Made a career-best six assists at Auburn
• Member of the 2025-26 Student-Athlete Advisory Council
As a Sophomore (2024)
• Redshirted during the 2024 season
The Kinney File
• Transferred to Vanderbilt from Charleston
• Appeared in all 31 matches as a freshman
• Led team in passing percentage (0.958)
• Ranked second in the team in digs per set (2.81)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Charleston
• 2022 TSSAA DII-AA East Region MVP (419 digs, 303 kills, 66 aces on the season)
Personal
• Mother played softball at Evansville (Ind.)
• Father played baseball at Tennessee Tech
• Brother plays professional baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays organization
• Enjoys hot yoga, playing any sports, going on walking and spending time with family and friends
Why Vanderbilt?
“Choosing Vanderbilt was an easy decision for me because of the opportunity to get an amazing education while competing at a high level. Being from Tennessee and growing up around Vanderbilt sports makes joining the first Vanderbilt volleyball team very special to me. I can’t wait to be a part of the program and to work with an amazing coaching staff that will push me to be the best person and player that I can be.”
Elli’s Essentials
Favorite Nashville food spot: 51st Deli
Favorite spot on campus: Wyatt Lawn
First song on aux: Joy of My Life by Chris Stapleton