By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — For the past seven years, Camille Hall has had a sports love affair with volleyball. On Wednesday, she and volleyball got engaged.

The South Point Lady Pointers senior volleyball standout will extend her love affair with volleyball after signing a letter-of-intent to play for the University of Pikeville Bears.

Besides volleyball, Hall has been a standout in basketball and track. She has been to the state track meet the past two seasons. But she admits that her favorite sport is volleyball.

“I’ve always loved it. I don’t know what clicked or happened, but I love it,” said Hall who has played the sport since the sixth grade.

I think they all help each other in the end. I just like to play all of them,” said Hall.

Hall talked with Shawnee State University, Muskingum University, Ohio Northern and she also got an offer from Geneva College for track.

“I love the campus for sure. It was small and that’s what I was looking for and it was very student-athlete friendly,” said Hall.

Lady Pointers head volleyball coach Kymbria Coleman played at Eastern Kentucky and she said Hall has the talent to play at the college level.

“I think she is going to do fantastic. She’s very head strong, she’s ready to play, she’s always ready to work, so I think she’s going to be excellent at the next level,” said Coleman.

“The coach — Kris Kern — talks high, high of her. So, that’s exciting to hear. She works her butt off in track, basketball, I mean every sport. Even in school she works her butt off. I’m excited for her. It’s going to be great.”

Hall said playing at the college level will be a challenge.

“I think it’ll definitely be a step up from high school. I know that last year they got a new coach and they improved a whole bunch with their record, so I’m excited to see how it will go next year,” Hall said.

“I just going to do what I’m doing. Don’t let anyone bring me down. Focus on myself and get to where I need to go.”

Hall said she will be used as a middle hitter but she knows there are no guarantees regarding playing time.

“I’m just going to work hard in practice and try my best to get where I get,” she said.

Getting an offer to play at UPike is just another gold nugget in Hall’s outstanding career. She capped her high school career by being voted the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.

“That was very exciting. I did not expect to get that. So, I was very surprised,” said Hall.

Holli Swarts coached Hall the past three seasons in volleyball and has coached her in track. She called Hall  a “once in a lifetime” player. Swarts was not surprised that Hall got the award.

“She deserved it. She should have been the player of the year the past couple of years,” said Swarts. “She deserves everything she gets. There’s no one more deserving than her.”

Swarts has been around Hall since middle school and nothing she does is ever a surprise.

“I had the privilege of coaching Camille in basketball in the eighth grade and then all through high school in track. Camille is just one of those athletes you just love being around,” said Swarts. “She’s extremely coachable, she has a natural talent, and you know you’re always going to get 110 percent from her. She is just truly a joy to have.”

Hall plans to major in physical therapy.