TAYLOR Cramsey enjoyed a standout volleyball career at Jefferson, but coach Mike Paul remembers the moment when it really skyrocketed.
It was Cramsey's junior year against Lakeview and she had taken herself out of the match due to illness. But Paul, knowing the team had to have her on the floor, asked Cramsey to check back in.
“I said, ‘look, your team needs you right now to lead us on the floor,’” he recalled. “She came back in the match and made a huge effort to overcome not feeling well. She was probably the deciding factor in the match. From that point on, her level of volleyball went out the roof.”
Now, that career will continue. Cramsey signed with Division III Piedmont College Tuesday, becoming the second Jefferson player in the program under Paul to sign collegiately.
Cramsey finished the 2011 season with 65 aces, 329 kills, 15 assists, 29 blocks and 12 digs. Though she also drew interest from West Georgia, Cramsey — who’s been playing volleyball since seventh grade — said Piedmont was the only school she considered.
“I just liked the atmosphere,” Cramsey said. “I met (Piedmont coach) Sid (Feldman), actually, the beginning of my junior year. Just the way he explains volleyball and how he puts it into players’ perspectives is really great. And I get along with him great and all the teammates.”
Cramsey, a four-year starter at middle hitter, was part of a core group of four seniors (along with Cassie Metcalf, Amanda Daniel and Eden Starnes) that played four years together on the varsity, led the program to over 100 wins, earned four state tournament berths and set multiple records.
Perhaps the greatest highlight for this group was reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history in 2011.
“I think we’ve accomplished a lot, mainly because I’ve been playing with the same group of girls,” Cramsey said. “Our senior class has been who started volleyball in the seventh grade. So it just shows how far we’ve come with all of our records and stuff. And I’m really proud of us. We came a long way since seventh grade.”
Cramsey, who has played middle hitter exclusively since seventh grade, leaves as the all-time leader for kills at Jefferson with 824 and blocks with 110. She also holds the record for most kills in a match — 23.
“We’re losing our top hitter the last four years, our top career hitter,” Paul said. “We’re losing a four-year starter. You can’t replace the experience that she and a lot of these other girls have. We’re going to miss that. We’re going to miss that attitude in practice and matches that she gave us.”
