By Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief
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Leesburg (September 21, 2015) — Loudoun County High School senior Abby Wright has made a commitment to continue her volleyball career at Nyack College starting in the 2016-2017 school year.
“It’s so exciting to finally be committed,” the 5-foot-10 Wright said. “Recruiting is such a long process but very rewarding in the end. I’ve watched the seniors going through LCHS every year commit and looked up to them so much and now that’s me!”
Wright’s senior class has a lot to look forward to. Having already won state titles in their freshmen, sophomore and junior years – 2012, 2013 and 2014 – the Lady Raider volleyball senior class includes North Carolina-commit Taylor Borup, Mary Washington-commit Rachel Voketaitis and Wright.
“I am where I am now because of Loudoun County volleyball. I dreamed of being a part of this team since I was a little kid, and if I hadn’t transferred in, I don’t know if I would still be playing. This program has made me competitive and passionate about the sport, and I always play for the little girl who sat in the stands watching every match all of those years ago,” Wright said. “LCHS got me to where I am, but Nyack head coach Raquel Shaffer has shown me that I can play for so much more. I can use the sport I was gifted in to honor God. When I play for him and not myself, my play is worth something so much more.”
Located just outside of New York City, Nyack is a small, Christian college which Wright added offers a “great criminal justice program.”
“What really made me choose Nyack was the people,” Wright said. “Coach Shaffer is an incredible coach with lots of volleyball knowledge, but she goes above and beyond reaching out to the team and helping them grow athletically, academically and spiritually. When I spent the night with the team on my visit I knew that was a family I could be a part of.”
In 2015, the Division II Warriors are 1-9 including an 0-2 record in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, but expect to bounce back after finishing second in the CACC North Division in 2013.
“I hope to add competitiveness to the gym and depth to our front row with my blocking and attacking,” Wright said.
While the Warriors are struggling to get things rolling, Loudoun County – under second year head coach Sherrilyn Hanna – is off to a great start sitting at 4-1 including a 1-1 record in Conference 21B.
“I expect nothing less than for us to play our hardest every time we step foot on the court. I don’t know exactly where that will take us, but I know we will go far,” Wright said. “A state championship is always the end goal, and I believe we can do it again. I want to capture one last championship before I graduate. That is the legacy I want to leave behind for the next group of Raiders to hopefully continue.”
