Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Two of the area’s top volleyball players will attend Charleston Southern University next year. Christiansburg’s Rachel Feggeler and Radford’s Emma Minnick have announced their intentions to play at the Big South school.
Over the pasts few years, the two have faced off against each other while also playing together on a travel volleyball team, thus becoming good friends along the way. Feggeler plays at Christiansburg High School, while Minnick is at Radford High School.
When it came to choosing a college, they even took official visits together.
“When I went on my first trip to Charleston Southern, it was for a recruiting camp. Rachel and I went together to get a feel for the campus and meet the coaches. I had a lot of fun on the trip and decided to go for an official visit a couple months later. I had been touring some schools, but CSU was the first school that I felt at home. I could really see myself there,” Minnick said.
It will be exciting to continue her college career, according to Feggeler, playing with one of her best friends. “We have played together for a few years on a travel team and have good chemistry on the court, and I can’t wait to play together for another four years,” she said.
Feggeler has compiled 190 kills this season for Christiansburg to give her 617 over her four-year varsity career. In addition, 51 percent of her hit attempts have resulted in a point for the Blue Demons this season.
For her career, she has 175 blocks, 369 digs and 97 aces.
Lisa Dalton, the head coach at Christiansburg, is happy for Feggeler and feels she will make an impact over the next few years at Charleston Southern.
“Rachel’s work ethic, personality and high expectations have impacted her team and our program in countless positive ways over the past 5 years. Rachel is a hard-working leader and playmaker for our team. She’s been game on this season, making one great hustle and smart play after another,” Dalton said.
“Her encouragement and enthusiasm on the court often pump the team up for the next play. Our program has grown and made a lot of progress over the past several years, Rachel and her teammates are a huge part of the program’s growth.”
Meanwhile Minnick has also excelled on the court. She reached 2,000 career assists at the end of last year and was named first team all state he past two seasons. She averages over 20 assists each match and is also the point leader serving for the team.
Radford coach Karen Adams said Minnick has been a leader on the court all four years of her high school career.
“Emma is certain to excel as she continues her career with the passion she has for the sport,” she said.
Charleston Southern plays Radford University at least twice during the regular season, giving Feggeler and Minnick an opportunity to come home.
Both Feggeler and Minnick liked the feel of the CSU campus.
“Charleston is such a beautiful place and the coaches were so welcoming. It was an offer I couldn’t turn down. Playing division one volleyball has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. I am so excited to see where the next chapter takes me and to continue to play the sport I love for another four years,” Minnick said.
The Radford senior hopes to major in International Business, while Feggeler is still undecided on her future studies.
Whatever the duo decides to venture into over the next four years, they will do it together.
