Virginia Tech adds center back Olivia Odle to 2017 recruiting class

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech women’s soccer coach Charles “Chugger” Adair announced Thursday that Olivia Odle (Matthews, North Carolina) has enrolled early to begin her four-year Hokie career.

“We are excited Olivia is here on campus and that she was able to come here a semester early,” Adair said. “She is here to prepare. Academically, she is ready. We are excited. She is a great kid and a tremendous student-athlete. She is from a great family, and we are really looking forward to her being on campus.

“We expect Olivia to come in and compete for one of the center back spots. She is versatile, left-footed and athletic. She has great soccer playing ability and a great mind for the game. She can play center back, left back or in the midfield. She has versatility with her game, and we are looking forward to see that out there on Thompson Field.”

A three-year midfielder at Weddington High, Odle helped lead the team to a 3A state title and a 24-0-1 record in her final season as a Warrior. Of note, Odle tallied two helpers in the 2016 state championship matchup vs. Jacksonville last spring. She was named all-conference, all-area and all-state from 2014-16 and also was a member of the 2014 state runner-up team.

+NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: January 2017

A two-year member of the 98 Carolina Rapids Academy, Odle helped lead the team to the 2016 United States Youth Soccer (USYS) National Championship finals. Additionally, the team was crowned Disney Senior Showcase Champions that same year.

Odle also played at the center back position as a member of the North Carolina Region III Girls’ Olympic Development Program (GODP), where she most recently competed in Rio de Janeiro from April 2-12. She played three games in Brazil, including a match against Brazil’s U20 National Team.

Odle was among the U.S. National Team Training Camp player pool from 2014-16. Initially, Odle had to make the state team before attending camp. From there, she was selected to a pool of 60 players and advanced to an interregional camp, where she made the GODP team for the third consecutive year. She previously traveled to Costa Rica and the Netherlands in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

“I chose Virginia Tech for many reasons,” Odle said. “The campus is not only beautiful, but also has so much to offer academically. I plan to take full advantage of the Pamplin School of Business.

“The overall athletic department also is very competitive and the facilities are the best of the best. I wouldn’t want to train, recover or rehab anywhere else. Overall, the top reason would be the constant interest and investment the Tech coaches expressed in me over the course of my recruiting process. It made it that much easier to decide.”

The daughter of Bruce and Jamie Odle, she will enroll in undergraduate studies.