Allysia Davis is getting in on the ground floor of something she believes can take her to great heights.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said Davis became just the second Union City High School player ever to sign a college volleyball scholarship.
On Tuesday, Davis joined the inaugural class of the sport at Jackson State after she committed to the Green Jays.
Jackson State Community College recently announced the addition of volleyball to its sports menu and hired Alexus Kapales, a former Division I player with professional overseas experience, as its first head coach.
For her part, Davis believes her prospects in both volleyball and adulthood are promising.
“I really enjoyed my visit to the campus, and I’m hoping my time at Jackson State will open several more doors for me,” Davis said after receiving well wishes from family and teammates at Tuesday’s signing ceremony. “I like the fact that I’m going to have the time I need for my studies, and I like that it’s close to home.
“Coach Kapales is well-connected because of her experience, and I’m hoping I can have two really good seasons there, help grow the program, and then transfer on to play on the Division I level.”
Davis helped Union City to just its third state tournament trip in the 13-year history of the program this past season in the Lady Tornadoes’ best-ever campaign. She recorded 77 kills – fourth on a team that finished 18-8 – and was credited with 29 saves in only her second year playing the sport.
“The improvement she showed from the start of the season until the end of the year was outstanding,” UC head coach Jessica Graham claimed. “Going to a first-year program will be good for her and her growth as both a volleyball player and a person. It’ll give her a chance to be part of something and help with the transition of being away from home.”
Davis’ character made her an attractive recruit to Kapales.
“Character is everything to me,” the coach insisted. “How you treat people is much more important than how good of a volleyball player you are in the long run. I could tell in her time on campus that Allysia is a high-character person.
“She’s very athletic, and being left-handed will help her a great deal in what we’ll ask her to do. We’re excited to have her as part of our first class and see how she fits into our community and program.”
Jackson State will play its matches in the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association.
