Clovis' Cole joining juco volleyball program

CLOVIS - Lexi Cole has had a pretty good idea since her junior year of high school she had a path to play volleyball beyond high school.

What she's still deciding is just how long her path will be. The Clovis High middle hitter has decided her first step will be Yavapai College, a junior college program in Prescott, Arizona.

Family, friends and coaches gathered Wednesday at Rock Staubus Gymnasium to celebrate Cole's college opportunity. She signed with the team Nov. 1, but chose to hold off on any announcements or ceremonies to concentrate on the volleyball season.

The Roughriders finished 15-12 last season and finished as District B runner-up. The team has made its district playoffs the last three seasons, winning the title in 2015 and bowing out in the 2016 semifinals.

Cole had also looked at Trinidad State in Colorado and Ottawa University in Arizona before settling on the Roughrider program.

"I liked the girls and the environment," the 6-foot Cole said. "They made me feel very welcomed. Also, the coaches were great and the area is beautiful."

Cole helped Clovis go 11-11 while playing in District 2-6A, which included three of Class 6A's top four seeds and state champion Sandia. It was two years of sharing a district with the state's powerhouses that let Cole know she had a chance to play at the next level.

"Junior year, I think it was a game against La Cueva," Cole said, "and I realized I was able to play against some of the bigger teams in the state."

She attended Yavapai's camp, and quickly grabbed the attention of fifth-year coach Zach Shaver.

"The first thing we noticed was athleticism - good jumper, very dynamic player," Shaver said. "When she came to our camp, we noticed her improvement each day she was here."

Cole credited Clovis assistant Becky Walters for helping her learn the middle hitter position during club volleyball and with Clovis, and to Clovis head coach Ruth Chavez for instilling confidence throughout her senior year.

Chavez, who coached her final season in Portales in 2015, first saw Cole as a sophomore. After she discovered she missed coaching too much to retire, Chavez came to Clovis and saw a player who could play anywhere on the court and not kill momentum with mistakes.

"I was always impressed with how she played," Chavez said. "She was definitely somebody we had to prepare to defend, and she's a good athlete. I didn't realize how good she was passing the ball, because she'd never played back row (before her senior year). That was huge for us that we could keep her on the court, have her in all six rotations."

Shaver said Cole is already a great hitter, but could be an even better blocker with the right work. He's optimistic based on the attitude Cole brings on the court.

"I go back to when she was with us in that camp and she improved all three days she was here," Shaver said. "If she can improve like that when she starts the season, it's going to help us. Anybody who's got the work ethic, the drive to not just coast on what they've got definitely makes a difference."

A main goal for Cole is to do well enough in her two years to get another opportunity at a Division II or small Division I school.

"I want to get a feel for college volleyball," Cole said, "see if it's something I want to do (for four years)."