RV’S Lucero finds the perfect fit by signing with William Penn

When River Valley High senior Elena Lucero was planning out her future and deciding what college to attend, she put academics first.

With the goal of becoming a lawyer in the future, her top choices of universities included a handful of Ivy League schools, and though playing volleyball collegiately was something she wanted to do, her eduction was always the top priority.

As it turns out, she found an academic institution that was, in her words, “the best of both worlds.”

On Friday, Lucero made her decision by signing a National Letter of Intent to attend William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, during a ceremony with family and friends inside River Valley’s library.

She received a nice athletic scholarship to play volleyball for the Lady Statesmen, who compete in the NAIA as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

A three-year varsity starter and two-time All-tri-county Conference selection at setter for the Falcons, Lucero said William Penn is the perfect fit for what she wants to do – both on the court and in the classroom.

“I’ve been a part of a recruiting website for a few years now, so coaches around the country

Courtesy photo River Valley High senior Elena Lucero, seated, celebrates with her family after signing a National Letter of Intent to play collegiate volleyball at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, during a ceremony on Friday at River Valley.

have been checking me out, but William Penn just caught my eye,” Lucero said. “It’s a smaller school, but it has all of the resources that big schools have. It’s just consolidated, and has that small community feel.”

An added bonus came in what

William Penn offers academically. The school features a dualenrollment program with nearby Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and Lucero is looking to attend law school there once her days playing volleyball are done.