Palmer signs with Alabama
WAPAKONETA Signing day is always exciting and Wednesday held true to form as Wapak volleyball standout Kaleigh Palmer signed her letter of intent to attend the University of Alabama.
It’s a long way south of the Masondixon line, but the Redskin senior is confident about her choice. “When I was down there they had a really good atmosphere. I really like the campus and the program. I had a good relationship with the coach, who is out to build the program.”
She also had an excellent relationship with three year head coach Megan Brown and has taken her lessons to heart.
“One of things I’m taking away is how to be a leader,” commented Palmer. “Helping out the underclassmen and using my voice on the court.”
“Kaleigh has really come into herself as a leader,” confirmed Brown. “She has always been a great volleyball player, but this year she stepped up as a vocal leader for our team. She was obviously our go-to player when we needed to score and she was the glue that held the team together. We were on the same wave length. She knows what I’m expecting so to have that kind of leader on the court great.”
The Redskin team had a very successful season finishing 17-6 over all and a second place finish in the Western Buckeye League with an 8-1 record. Palmer led the team in kills with 483, to finish her career with an impressive 1259 kills. Every time the ball was up around the top of the net her aggressive instincts kicked in.
“I’m a very competitive person,” admitted Palmer. “I really like to win and volleyball is a very competitive sport. Every time I go up to swing I’m looking to get a kill. I try and find the right spot and if I can’t get a hard kill I tip it to the open spot. It’s very exciting and it feels good to get that point on a kill.”
Behind most successful athletes is a supportive family, and Palmer gets straight A’s in that too.
“Her Mom is super supportive,” said Brown. “With clubs and school it’s pretty much a year round thing, and that has included trips down to Columbus three nights a week in the off season.”
“We are looking forward to going down to visit her,” said proud momma Brenna Palmer. “I think it will be good for her to be away from home and to be able to experience new things. We visited a couple of schools and when we went to Alabama it felt right, and when it’s right it’s right.”
“We are really proud of Kaleigh and all her accomplishments,” concluded Brown. “We are looking forward to the success we know she’ll have at Alabama.”