BY JOHN D. HOMAN
Logan Media Services
CARTERVILLE – The John A. Logan College volleyball team has added to its frontline depth with this week’s announced signing of Cheyenne Pitchford of Sesser-Valier High School.
The 6-foot-2 spiker played mostly middle hitter for the Red Devils, but could also play rightside for the Volunteers. The Black Diamond West Conference Most Valuable Player recorded 161 kills and 86 blocks this past season. She also owned the second-highest serving percentage on the team at 93 with 121 total service points.
Cheyenne Pitchford
Pitchford was also selected All-South and All-State Honorable Mention by the Champaign News Gazette.
“We are excited to add Cheyenne to our 2015 recruiting class,” said Vols head coach Bill Burnside. “She has been a standout multi-sport athlete at Sesser-Valier (plays center on the basketball team) and I believe she has a lot of potential as a collegiate volleyball player. Despite limited club volleyball experience, she already has a great start towards the fundamental skills she needs to be successful at our level. When volleyball becomes her only sport, I think she will have the chance to really flourish.”
Burnside said Pitchford will be able to contribute as a middle or rightside hitter immediately.
“I think so,” he said. “Cheyenne has great potential as a blocker and the heart and determination to play the middle. The challenge will be getting her used to running middle hits as quick as we are used to running them.”
The addition of Pitchford brings to six the number of players on the Logan roster for next fall that stand 6 feet tall or taller.
“We are going to have more size on the court than we ever had in the past,” Burnside said. “I don’t think we have ever had this much size in the past. Once we get the girls used to our system and playing as a unit, that size should really have an effect. It should allow us to compete more successfully against the best teams on our schedule.”
Pitchford said she chose Logan because she felt welcome there.
“I love the campus and enjoyed meeting the players on the team. It seems to be a good fit for me,” she said. “And even though I love playing basketball, volleyball is my passion. I am definitely looking forward to having the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Pitchford said she plans to compete in club volleyball in the spring and will be pushing herself to get stronger through individual workouts in the spring and summer.
“I’m confident that I can contribute next year. Volleyball has always come naturally for me.”
Pitchford said she will pursue an associate’s degree in science at Logan with plans to later study veterinary science.
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