LeGrande to set, serve for Guilford Tech Titans

 

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

ROCKINGHAM — Davina LeGrande’s transition from high school to college volleyball might not be that difficult.

After all, Guilford Technical Community College is only 75 minutes north of Rockingham. And the school color includes a little green.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com Davina LeGrande, seated in center, is situated between her parents, Donnie and Pamela LeGrande. Standing behind them is Athletic Director Ricky Young and head volleyball coach Shellie Wimpey.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Davina LeGrande, seated in center, is situated between her parents, Donnie and Pamela LeGrande. Standing behind them is Athletic Director Ricky Young and head volleyball coach Shellie Wimpey.

LeGrande, who stands at 5 feet, 3 inches, signed her letter of intent on Tuesday inside the Richmond Senior High School media center to play for the Titans and coach Sabrina Johnson. Davina sat at the center of a table adorned with the Raider green and gold cover and situated between her parents, Donnie and Pamela LeGrande, volleyball coach Shellie Wimpey and Raider Athletic Director Ricky Young.

Davina plans to purse a career as a nurse.

Davina, the youngest of four, continues a family tradition of excelling in academics and athletics. Her father played football and baseball for the Raiders and played defense at N.C. State University for the Wolfpack. He even earned a free agent shot with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. Pamela, meanwhile, played basketball and softball at N.C. State. In fact, on campus is where the two met.

Davina is the first player in head coach Shellie Wimpey’s three years at the helm to move on to the collegiate level. Davina and the Raiders finished with 10 wins and 13 losses last fall but 6-4 in Southeastern Conference play — including a home sweep on Sept. 8 over rival Scotland. The win over Scotland was also the program’s first in at least three years and helped Richmond to finish third in the SEC, the team’s highest in at least three seasons.

Wimpey said Davina, a three-year varsity starter and two-time All-Conference honoree, has the physical skills and statistics to move on to the next level. She also spoke about the intangibles.

“She’s a great leader,” Wimpey said. “She can run the court. People respond to her. She’s not only a good setter, she’s also a good server and likes to dig.”

Davina’s father said it seems clear what separates his daughter from other players.

“She’s got heart,” he said. “That goes a long way.”

Davina began playing volleyball in seventh grade at Rockingham Middle School for coach Teresa Mason.

Young acknowledged the growth and improvement of the volleyball program since Wimpey was hired — she spent two years with the JV team before taking over varsity — and said a collegiate signing is an indication things are moving in the right direction.

“We want all of our programs to be competitive,” Young said, “and to develop players to go to the next level if that’s what they want.”

Young admired Wimpey’s work ethic and recruiting skills, noting her coordination of summer camps and middle school outreach efforts.

“I think it will pay off,” Young said.

The Titans last year finished 7-18. They play their home games in at Mary Perry Ragsdale Family YMCA in Jamestown.

Filed in: Latest Headlines, Sports

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