Georgia Northwestern signee Hannah Jones (North Murray) sits center with her mother and father by her side at her signing with the Lady Cats Women’s Volleyball program. The ceremony was held in the North Murray High School Media Center. Shown here, from left, are Georgia Northwestern Athletic Director David Stephenson, Georgia Northwestern Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Carrie Powell, North Murray Head Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Coach Connie Hudgins, North Murray Head Girls’ JV Volleyball Coach Rachel Adams, and North Murray Assistant Principal Roger Rainey.
State girls’ volleyball quarter-finalist North Murray High School loses seven seniors to graduation this month. Two of those Lady Mountaineer leaders have now inked with another North Georgia Volleyball power in Georgia Northwestern.
Hitters Casey Chapman and Hannah Jones made the move this month to sign with the Lady Cats who have made a name for themselves on the national junior college level over the past six years. “Signing Casey and Hannah is a huge step towards making 2013 an amazing year for us,” said Georgia Northwestern Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Carrie Powell.
Powell, a 6-foot hitter herself for the college’s first team in 2008, helped lead the program to key wins over several Southeastern Conference women’s club programs. “This year appears to be shaping up to eclipse that inaugural season,” said Powell. “We’ve got some great power and size coming in to the ranks this summer.”
After a hard-fought 15-15 season in GHSA’s 4-AAA, North Murray Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach Connie Hudgins has big holes to fill. “Casey did whatever was needed to take care of business,” said Hudgins. “Losing experience like what Casey had is going to be tough. I mean, she’s 5-foot-10. But she played like a solid 6-foot-2 hitter. It will be hard for us to lose her.”
As for Jones, Hudgins loses big power in the service column. “Hannah has killer serves with serious placement ability,” said Hudgins. “Plus, she is incredibly strong on the right side. That’s rare,” said North Murray’s second-year coach.
Jones, a 5-foot-2 right-side hitter, has filled slots on the front and back lines. However, the Lady Cats will show her time in the right hitter slot, as well. “She’s a lefty and a right side hitter. You hardly ever see that. It’ll be nice to come at them from both sides.”
Chapman and Jones will bring chemistry to the collegiate court. However, these signees have also played on the travel circuit with several other Lady Cat incoming freshmen in Ringgold’s Rachel McGill and Victoria Sprouse and Ridgeland’s Layna Jenkins. “They were locked in on going there and I really enjoy playing with them in travel ball,” said Chapman. “We are really solid together. We communicate well on the court.”
Jones is happy to be getting a shot at playing at the next level without going far from home. “Georgia Northwestern gives me a great chance to take my core classes and keep things affordable, too,” said Jones. The 2013 season for the Lady Cats Women’s Volleyball program is entering its sixth season of intercollegiate volleyball participation.
For more information on Bobcats Athletics at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, contact the Office of Sports Information at 706 764-3813, through BobcatsCountry.com, or by e-mail to dfoley@gntc.edu. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is the largest college in Northwest Georgia educating more than 10,000 students every year. GNTC offers more than 200 programs on five different campuses and online throughout the year.
North Murray High School volleyball standout Casey Chapman, right, chats with Georgia Northwestern Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Carrie Hawkins just moments after her signing to play intercollegiate volleyball at Georgia Northwestern this coming fall. The signing took place in the North Murray High School Media Center.