Committing to play a sport in college is a huge deal. A little over seven percent of high school athletes play a sport in college. That’s about one in thirteen people. Despite that, less than two percent of these athletes go on to play at a NCAA Division I school. This year the Lady Lions Varsity Volleyball team has seven total commits on the team. Each of these girls are committed to a Division I school. This just goes to show the type of talent that is on this team.
Having seven Division I volleyball commits on one team can bring a lot to the practice and games. Senior Middle Blocker Autumn Smith said, “It keeps the intensity high in a practice surrounded by people who care about the game and want to better themselves on and off the court.” One can only imagine the types of practices that are had with this team. This is good for girls who are younger because they are blessed with practicing with such high competition and this only makes them better.
This brings joy not only for other players, but also the girls going to play in the next level. Senior Setter Camille Edwards, who is committed to The University of Michigan, said, “It’s a lot of fun to get to play along with such talented people. I’m thankful for the luxury of ‘good volleyball’ all the time.” Playing and practicing with one another allows them to grow as a player. Junior Defensive Specialist Sloan Cleveland who is committed to The University of Las Vegas said, “Playing with other commits is extremely fun but also very challenging. We have a lot of great players on our team, so the practice and game environment are very competitive. I love being able to play at this level with these girls because it pushes me to be a better player.” Not many other people can say they have been on a highschool team like this.
When committing to a school, it is important to know that the school you choose is the right fit for you. You have to feel like you will be able to excel in your sport but also academically. Camille said, “I chose to play at Michigan because of the family culture there. I felt like I belonged to a bigger community. It is also an amazing school, and I would love to get a degree from them. Lastly, their volleyball program has always been strong and with the new coaches we got I believe I can make a big impact.” It is ideal to go to the place you feel most at home at. The student always comes first in student athlete, so it is important to go somewhere that you will get your degree. It is important to have a connection with the other athletes that you will be on a team with. Junior Libero Gillian Pitts who is committed to The University of Houston said, “Making this decision was easy because once I arrived on campus and met all the players, I knew it was where I wanted to go. The coaching staff and desire to win really sold me.”
The transition from high school to college can be very stressful, so it is important to have things that you are looking forward to. Senior Outside Hitter Mikala Young who is committed to Texas Christian University said, “I am really excited for being a part of FCA at TCU and getting to find my community of Christians when I get to Fort Worth in June.” FCA stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a great way to grow in your faith not only as an athlete but as a Christian. Any athlete going to play on the next level has goals that they set for themselves athletically. Junior Setter Taylor Cook who is committed to The University of Kansas said, “I am excited to train and play volleyball with and against some amazing athletes and create new friendships and memories.” This is an opportunity to become the best athlete that you can be and now there are so many resources to do what you love while also getting an education.
Playing sports at the collegiate level is a blessing. Not only do you get to play the sport you love, but you also get an education. All the hard work that they have put in is paying off. It will be hard to do in college, but it will be worth it. It’s important to play the game for God and to be a great leader on and off the court. God has many plans for these girls and this is only the first of many.
