Piedmont senior volleyball player BreAnna Thompson signed a scholarship with Wallace State of Hanceville on Friday. Pictured sitting from left is Shawn Jones (Stepdad), Molly Jones (Mother), Thompson and Trent Brown (Father). Standing from left is Piedmont assistant coach Snow, Wallace State volleyball coach Randy Daniel and Piedmont head volleyball coach Grace Strott.
On Thursday, she scored her 1,000th career point in basketball at Ohatchee. Then on Friday, she secured her collegiate future by signing a volleyball scholarship at Wallace State in Hanceville.
"It's great to be able to go to the next level," Thompson said. "I'm glad I got this opportunity now so volleyball won't end for me. I'm very fortunate. I worked hard to get it."
Thompson's last statement is certainly true.
A member of Piedmont's varsity volleyball team since the eighth grade, Thompson, an outside hitter, capped her high school career by guiding the Lady Bulldogs (33-15) to the North Super Regional in Huntsville. She posted 312 kills, 87 aces and 34 blocks during the 2012 season.
For her career, Thompson tallied 1,267 kills, 218 aces and 157 blocked shots.
Piedmont volleyball coach Grace Strott said she's going to miss Thompson's presence, but is excited to see her get the opportunity to play volleyball at the next level.
"I knew BreAnna was a very special player when she first come to the volleyball program," Strott said. "She's played a key role for us every year she's been on the team, and this year just caps it off. Going to the next level is an exclamation point for her. Just being able to see her try out at Wallace was an awesome sight. I'm excited for her."
Thompson tried out at Wallace State the first weekend in November. She said she was nervous, but felt as if the campus could be her new home.
"The campus is pretty, and the players who are already there made me feel like I was already on the team," Thompson said. "Coach (Randy Daniel) was really easy to talk to. I feel like I can tell him anything."
Daniel said he was impressed with how well Thompson's workout went with the Lady Lions. He expects Thompson to fit in well in her new surroundings, saying her character and personality "convinced me she was somebody I wanted."
"She's athletic, and she's very dynamic," Daniel said. "She has a lot of potential because she's a strong kid. She has a personality where I feel she'll step in and work hard."
Daniel said he sees Thompson playing one of the Lady Lions' outside positions and helping with ball control, but also said she's versatile enough to play middle hitter or the right side.
That's because Thompson played a variety of roles at Piedmont throughout her volleyball career.
"Her coordination level and maturity level have come a long way," Strott said. "She can hit harder than any other girl I've seen hit. She can jump just as high as any girl I've ever had at the outside position. More importantly, she plays the whole floor well.
"She's developed into an all-around player. She can do everything. She even set for me some at the end of this season. That says a lot about her character and willingness to just step in when she has to and be a leader. I'm going to miss her."
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