Ever wondered what some of the top high school players are up to at the collegiate level?
Starting this year, I’ll be writing a weekly notebook that will feature some of the top performances from local graduates playing sports at the college level. Anyone with a family member playing any sport in college that has a big week or a big game, please feel to send their name and the college and sport and their stats to jpence@therepublic.com.
East grad nets honor
Florida Gulf Coast volleyball player Cortney VanLiew has been selected as the Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year.
VanLiew, a junior outside hitter from Columbus East, led all ASUN players with 482 kills, while adding 312 digs last year, when she was the unanimous conference Player of the Year. Her 790
career kills already ranks
fifth in Florida Gulf Coast history.
The Eagles open the season Friday in the Fort Myers Classic.
North grads square off
J.D. Harris and Tristan Bailey were high school teammates at Columbus North, but will be on opposite sidelines when Bailey’s Illinois State team hosts Harris’ Northern Illinois squad at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Bailey and Harris, a wide receiver, both are redshirt-freshmen. Harris, however, played in four games last season, including the Boca Raton Bowl, and is competing for a starting cornerback spot. Under NCAA rules beginning last year, players can take part in up to four games and still receive a redshirt year.
East grad off to fast start
Kendal Williams, a sophomore setter from East, dished out 20 assists in helping IU-Kokomo defeat Grace College 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 in the second game of Saturday’s Grace College Tournament.
The Cougars improve to 4-1 and take on No. 24 Marian on Wednesday.
Cougars drop opener
Sarah Park, a freshman from East, started the game, and Marina Hughes, a junior from Columbus North, came off the bench for St. Francis in a 3-0 loss to No. 16 University of Northwestern Ohio on Saturday.
The Cougars (0-1) take on Indiana Tech on Wednesday.
Hauser grad helps Foresters
Brea Metz, a junior outside hitter from Hauser, recorded 11 kills and three digs off the bench to help Huntington to a 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-21 victory against IU-East on Saturday.
The Foresters improved to 5-1 and travel to Taylor on Sept. 4.
