By Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief
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Leesburg (February 26, 2017) — Loudoun County High School junior Chloe Adam has made an early verbal commitment to continue her volleyball career at Salisbury University beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year.
“I am beyond happy to be committed. There are really no words to express how much I love SU,” the 5-foot-10 Adam said. “The fact that I get to say that I’m committed to such an all-around great school, puts a big smile on my face, knowing that all my hard work in the classroom and on the court has paid off. I want to thank my parents for helping me in getting me to where I am today. I couldn’t be more thankful!”
In 2018, Adam will join a DIII Seagulls team which finished 20-8 in 2016 behind Capital Athletic Conference player of the year Katie Stouffer. Stouffer – and fourth year head coach Justin Turco – led Salisbury to an 8-1 finish in the CAC, earning them the No. 2 seed heading into conference tournament play.
“Being a pin hitter, you have to be an all-around versatile player, something our club director Seng Chiu, really focuses on with his players,” Adam said. “I hope to be able to add this kind of diversity as well as offensive and defensive assets. As a freshman, I hope to lead by example and will give 100-perecent every time I step on the court.”
After playing for the Lady Raiders program for two years, Adam decided to focus on the club circuit, playing for the Dulles Volleyball Club both on the hardwood and in the sand. Led by director and coach Seng Chiu, Dulles Volleyball is quickly becoming an area force with a number of local athletes committing to play at the next level:
- Woodgrove senior Carolyn Cain (North Florida)
- Stone Bridge senior Becca Madgwick (Randolph-Macon)
- Tuscarora senior Vanessa Marinelli (Buffalo)
- Flint Hill junior Carly Middleton (Palm Beach Atlantic)
- Dominion senior Megan O’Hara (Christopher Newport)
- John Champe senior Samantha Plesce (Christopher Newport)
- Potomac Falls senior Kylie Thomas (Virginia Tech)
“The coaches and teammates are like a second family to me. Coach Seng creates a positive environment to play in and truly wants to see all of us develop and succeed,” Adam said. “With wanting to play in college, it was important for me to become stronger and quicker on the indoor court and decided to play in Dulles’ high school sand league this past fall, and it was a great decision. As a result, I am jumping higher and am quicker on defense.”
On February 18-20, the Dulles 17s competed in the Capitol Hill Classic in Washington, D.C. placing ninth in the gold bracket, beating out 55 other teams.
“We are improving so much each tournament and I’m so excited to see what the rest of the season and the future holds,” Adam said. “My team plays at the most competitive level every tournament and, win or lose, we always have so much fun! I have a blast on and off the court with them and can always count on my teammates for a good laugh.”
Along with the friendships made and laughter had, Adam continues to play volleyball because of the camaraderie is not only creates, but requires.
“I love that it is a team sport. You can’t pass without a serve, set without a pass or hit without a set,” Adam said. “It is a sport that is very competitive and physically demanding because you have to always be alert and ready for the ball.”
If she needed any extra motivation, committing to play for one of the top Division III programs in the Mid-Atlantic might push Adam just that much more.
“After spending time on campus last summer at coach Turco’s camp, I knew Salisbury was the school for me. I learned so much from the coaching staff and would even stay after camp hours to put in extra reps,” Adam said. “I am also familiar with the area because I have grown up spending summers at my family’s beach home in Ocean City, which is only 40 minutes from SU. I play a lot of beach volleyball so having the opportunity to play nearby in beach tournaments when I am not competing indoors, is a huge plus.”
