By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Kilee Kimmel will be trading her red and gray for purple and gold. The Buckeye Central senior signed her letter of intent Tuesday to play volleyball for NCAA Division II Ashland University.
Kimmel explained why she chose Ashland over other suitors.
“I really just liked how small Ashland was and it is a small community, so I know they are really tight in everything they do,” Kimmel said. “Ashland, the volleyball program, I know is super good, and I’ve known Coach Cass for a long time now and I was really honored when she wanted to coach me.”
Kimmel said playing collegiate volleyball wasn’t necessarily in her plans following her high school graduation.
“I was looking at Bowling Green University, not for volleyball, but for going to school, and there were a few schools recruiting for volleyball, but I liked Ashland the best,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel, who will play libero, joins an Ashland Eagles Volleyball team that finished 26-8 last season going 15-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an appearance in the Division II regional semifinals under head coach Cass Dixon.
Kille wasn’t the only Kimmel who was happy about Tuesday’s signing.
“This feels wonderful,” said Kilee’s father Ben Kimmel. “We are very proud of her for the work she puts in on the volleyball court as well as in the classroom.”
Buckeye Central volleyball head coach Ken Brubaker said his now former player was worthy for selection to play at Ashland.
“I think it is very deserving,” Brubaker said if Kimmel’s signing. “Kilee is a hard worker, good leader, and I think she is going to bring a lot to Ashland University’s program. We are going to miss her leadership for sure. She was very caring to every teammate and to our kids’ program. In our kids’ program she was very caring individual, and we are going to miss that side of her. She has got a great personality, and brought a dimension to the team that is going to be missed.”
Kimmel will major in dietetics at Ashland.