Former Matoaca volleyball standout and 2014 Warriors graduate Jaelyn Jackson signed a National Letter of Intent to play college volleyball at Baylor University.
If the name sounds familiar, it is because Jackson originally signed to play college volleyball at the University of Maryland, however, a second surgery for a stress fracture in her leg changed perspectives on her career as a Terrapin. After a coaching change, Jackson decided she would play volleyball elsewhere.
“It opened up an opportunity for something better,” said Sheila Jackson, Jaelyn’s mother.
When former Maryland coach Ryan McGuyre, the coach that initially recruited Jackson, was tabbed as Baylor’s head coach, it made the decision easier.
“In Texas people were just friendly,” Jackson said. “They talked to you first, and they were so nice, too.”
McGuyre stayed with Jackson through the process, even though she visited and entertained offers from other schools as she rehabbed and did NEXT LEVEL training, many of the same workouts that she will do as a Bear at Baylor, a Christian school.
“I feel like things worked out because God smiled down on her,” her mother said.
During her senior year at Matoaca, Jackson was Conference 12 Player of the Year, Second Team All State, First Team All-Metro, Team MVP, and Player of the Year for the Warriors.
After a long recruiting process that saw several Division I schools offer scholarships in Devin Morgan’s junior season, the Warrior made it official when he signed on the dotted line to attend Delaware State, joining Thomas Dale alum Kavon Waller on the roster in the fall.
Calling Morgan a prolific shooter may be an understatement. He drew comparisons to J.J. Redick (Duke/NBA) from local coaches and often put up 25 to 35 points with a few ridiculous shots mixed in. Though Morgan is just 5-9, he was easily one of the top two or three players south of the river.
Morgan will go down as Matoaca’s second all-time leading scorer behind the late Harold Jefferson.
Miranda Childers made history at the University of Queens-Charlotte as their first field hockey signee. The goalie was an integral part of Matoaca field hockey’s success over the past few years and a key cog in the Warriors’ run to regionals this past season, knocking off top-seeded Prince George.
The All-5A South Region and All-Conference 12 First Team goalie was dominant and kept the Warriors in games all season long. In preseason practice, former head coach Kate Doctur said she had more than enough to play collegially should she choose to. Childers will be on the field for the university’s first game. They announced the school would launch their first field hockey program in November 2014.
