Crossville’s Lacey signs with Snead

CROSSVILLE — Mattie Lacey will trade her black and gold for blue and gold next year, as the two-sport Crossville star signed a volleyball scholarship with Snead State Community College during a Nov. 25 ceremony in the CHS library.

The 5-foot-10 Lacey led the Lions a 31-20 record during her senior volleyball season, including a second consecutive trip to the Class 4A North Regional.

Lacey finished with 201 kills, 282 service points, 61 aces and 33 blocks for Crossville, which finished second in the 4A, Area 12 Tournament to eventual state runner-up Guntersville.

She was selected to the All-Area 12 and All-DeKalb County teams.

“I’m extremely excited,” Lacey said. “It’s just something I’ve worked really hard for, to get the opportunity to play after I graduate high school.”

Lacey’s never played club volleyball. She’s played travel basketball through the years, but she decided to accept a volleyball scholarship when Snead State coach Dee Ayres offered it.

“Just the excitement of it … there’s something about it,” Lacey said of volleyball. “You have to love it.”

Ayres said Lacey will bring a lot to the Parsons both academically and athletically. She’s looking forward to coaching her.

“Mattie is going to add depth to our outside hitter position,” Ayres said. “Her athletic abilities are going be an asset to our team. She is going to be a strong blocker on the left side for us.”

Lacey was an outside hitter for the Lions. She played on the left side.

“The setter usually back sets the right side, and she just pushes it out farther to the left side,” Lacey explained of the differences in the hitter positions,

“You can get out there farther and you can go at it a lot faster than you can on the right side, because you have more time for the set to come over.”

Lacey is going to pursue dual enrollment with Snead State after the Christmas break. Taking a class at Snead will enable her to work out with the Parson volleyball team after Crossville’s basketball season ends.

“I know that will help a lot and kind of get me used to the way she coaches and the atmosphere of playing in college,” Lacey said.

She cherishes the memories of her senior season.

“We grew really close over the year,” she said. “I love that team to death, and I wouldn’t trade my senior year for nothing. It was fun.”

Lacey is the first signee for Crossville head coach Magon McAnelly.

“I’m very proud of her,” McAnelly said.

“Mattie’s senior year she really came along as a solid hitter. Hitting and serving were her two strengths, which is why she got signed.

“She just really stepped it up this year and played very well, very well. She was one of my best hitters, by far.

“I moved her to outside last year, and you usually put at least one of your best hitters out there. She was a go-to hitter. When I needed a kill, she was the one we went to.

“She’s a great girl. I’ve known her for six years. I’ve really been able to see her grow, and this year as a senior she really stepped it up and really did well and developed as a great volleyball player. I have full confidence in her.”

Lacey’s favorite thing about volleyball is that it’s such a “team sport.”

“You have to trust in your passers, and you have to trust in your setters,” Lacey said. “They have to have a good pass to the setter, and the setter has to have a good set before you can ever think about getting a kill.

“You have to learn to depend on everybody, and you just get really close. It’s so exciting. I just love it.”