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Woods lands scholarship to Wright State
April 6, 2007
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By Steve Yingling
Tribune sports editor
Did folks in Zephyr Cove feel that large exhale coming from Whittell High School earlier this week?
It belonged to volleyball star Jessica Woods.
The Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year's stressful college search has finally reached a conclusion. The Whittell High senior will play on a full scholarship at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
"I was ready for it to happen. It's a nice relief," Woods said of her verbal commitment. "Life gets way better now. I actually don't have to worry about scholarships and I can focus on getting a car - the essentials in life."
During Woods' four-year high school career, the Warriors won every single Nevada 2A state tournament. Woods only lost one regular season match to a Northern Nevada team in her four-year career.
"I'm excited that she found a place to go, and it's the right fit," said Dan McLaughlin, Woods' coach throughout high school.
"Wright State got into this late. They contacted us, came to the Crossroads tournament in Colorado and saw her, liked her and that's all it took."
Woods credited Jim Saari, Capital City club volleyball recruiting coordinator, for raising Wright State's interest in her.
Previously, UNLV, Oregon State, Ohio State, Northern Arizona, and College of Charleston were in the mix in recruiting Woods. Two months ago, it looked as if Woods was headed to Ohio State, but the Buckeyes reportedly used that scholarship on a transfer from Tennessee. UNLV wasn't willing to offer a full ride.
McLaughlin said that most of the major programs that hesitated in recruiting Woods were preoccupied with the recruit's height. At 5-foot-7 Woods wasn't the tallest player on the court, but her superior leaping ability made her into a hitting star. She also elevated her team in many other areas, including passing, serving and defense.
"They can't look past them as ballplayers," McLaughlin said. "All they are looking at with these kids was their size."
While the move to Dayton will take Woods away from family and friends, she'll be closer than expected to close friend Kelly Karmann, who will play volleyball at Cornell.
"Kelly will be out in New York, so it will be an eight-hour drive. She says we can meet at Lake Erie for a cup of tea."
Woods concluded her Whittell career by setting school records in kills (1,267), service aces (229) and digs (862).
In 2006, Wright State was a Horizon League quarterfinalist and finished with a 14-17 overall record.
Woods is expected to sign her NCAA Division I letter of intent sometime next week when the paperwork arrives from Wright State.
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