Sydney Schoen might have been destined to play volleyball for Eastern Kentucky University.
Her mother, Becky (Baker) Schoen played volleyball for the Colonels. Her father, Jerry Schoen, played baseball at Eastern Kentucky and later in the minor leagues.
But even with her parents’ prowess on the courts and fields, Sydney didn’t think much about going there until last year. After a couple of visits, the Hauser junior knew that was where she wanted to go.
Earlier this month, Sydney Schoen committed to play volleyball for the Colonels beginning in 2018.
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“They mentioned some things, but a lot of it was more just the campus and everything that I liked,” she said. “I felt like it was a good fit athletically and academically. I just liked the school and the atmosphere.”
One of the things that drew Sydney to the Richmond, Kentucky school were the projects that are underway. The volleyball team is getting a new locker room, the athletes are getting a new weight room and the school is building new dorms.
Former Eastern Kentucky coach Geri Polvino, who coached Becky Schoen from 1987-90, donated $100,000 for the new locker room. The locker room will feature names and numbers of all former players, including Becky and her No. 10.
Lori Duncan, who played at Eastern Kentucky in the early 1980s, has been the Colonels’ coach the past 20 years.
“She was welcoming and friendly,” Sydney said. “I really liked her a lot. She was really passionate about volleyball. I’ve only met a few of the players, but they were really nice, too.”
Sydney recently helped lead Team Indiana to the 18 Open Silver Division title in the Bluegrass Tournament in Louisville. She spent most of last week in Florida and today, goes back to Eastern Kentucky to visit.
Then, it’s back to Hauser for softball season. After running track as a freshman, Sydney was the starting center fielder on a softball team that came within one run of making a return trip to the Class A state finals last season.
In volleyball, Sydney was a Class A All-State selection as a junior after helping lead the Jets to a regional title.
Eastern Kentucky is in the process of trying to add a beach volleyball program. Four teams in the Ohio Valley Conference have beach volleyball, and if a fifth gets the sport, it will be recoginzed by the conference.
“We’re thrilled that she’s going to continue beyond high school playing a sport that she’s passionate about,” Becky said. “She has a great offer, it’s close enough that we can go and watch just about every match, and it’s a great school.”
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Name: Sydney Schoen
School: Hauser
Year: Junior
Height: 5-foot-9
Sports: Volleyball, softball
College choice: Eastern Kentucky
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