CALEDONIA — Samantha (Kreller) Brooks didn’t see it coming.
But Brooks knew as soon as she arrived in Columbus, Mississippi, and toured the Mississippi University for Women campus.
“Those were some of the best times of my life,” Brooks said when asked about her college experience at The W. “That time in my life we so awesome because I was on my own, but I met a group of friends that were my teammates, who are still my closest friends. It is going to be exciting to go back and watch (volleyball) start again at The W.”
Brooks arrived at The W as a volleyball recruit from McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Indiana. She took her first flight by herself to get to the campus and wound up becoming a standout at right side from 1996-2000 when the school first had women’s intercollegiate athletics.
In September, volleyball and men’s soccer will mark the return of sports to The W for the first time since 2003. Baseball and softball will begin their seasons in February 2018 as part of the school’s plan to build a NCAA Division III athletic program.
The move is special for Brooks, the volleyball coach at Caledonia High School, because she used her experiences at The W to build a life for herself after school.
She believes the school could offer similar opportunities for her volleyball players and others like them throughout the state of Mississippi.
This season, former Caledonia High players Cheyenne Ruth, Haley McMurphey, and Savannah Thomas will be a part of The W’s volleyball program. Thomas is returning to the sport after two seasons away, while McMurphey played last season at Jefferson Davis Community College in Alabama. Ruth played last season at Caledonia High.
“It is just like riding a bike,” Brooks said. “Savannah will pick it right back up and get whipped into shape. She will be fine.”
Brooks said her team usually goes to watch the Mississippi State volleyball team play every year. She said it is equally important for her players to see opportunities at The W because not everyone gets a chance to play at a Division I school.
Brooks wasn’t sure where she was going to end up “a long time ago.” Her flight to Mississippi led to a tryout on a Friday that convinced Brooks she found her school.
“I called my parents that night and said, ‘This is where I am coming. This is where I want to be,’ ” said Brooks, who started out wearing No. 14 and then took No. 7 (her favorite number) after a player graduated. “I knew just like that. I loved the South. Even those few hours hanging with the girls (was enough to convince her she found her college). I fell in love with it.”
Brooks’ time at The W made such an impression on her that she still keeps in touch with many of her college teammates, including Becky Hudgins, who lives in the area. In fact, she said some of them hope to set up a get-together in November.
Current players like Caledonia High senior Bailie Cross could be in line to make similar connections. Later this month, Cross will play in the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Volleyball game at Millsaps College. Cross’ goal is to play volleyball in college, so she is excited about the athletic opportunities that will be available at The W.
“It definitely has created a lot of excitement,” Cross said. “There are several girls I used to play with who are playing volleyball at The W. … I think it will be super exciting for them and for all of the students to go watch them.”
Columbus High graduate Tori Weir will join the former Caledonia High players at The W.
Cross, who has been playing volleyball for years, hopes the sport’s return to The W will create chances for local players. She feels having a school in Columbus with a college volleyball program will help the sport grow locally and throughout the state.
“I think it will encourage a lot more people because volleyball isn’t big in Mississippi, but a lot of these girls have so much heart for the game,” Cross said. “Even if they don’t think they can go further, they can. Every one of us could do it if we want it bad enough.
“It will be a really good opportunity for them to see they could go do stuff, even if they want to stay close to home and keep playing the sport they love.”
That wasn’t the situation Brooks was in when she left Indiana to come to Mississippi. But Brooks knows The W volleyball coach Roxanne Hernandez and assistant coach Brooke Beasley will nurture that love of volleyball in the school’s next group of student-athletes.
“They’re all good athletes,” Brooks said when asked what to expect from Ruth, McMurphey, and Thomas. “They’re good kids. They will rise to the occasion. Coach Roxanne and coach Brooke are going to hold the bar high for them, but they are going to get the results they need to revive the program. I think they’re going to do great.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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