After being courted by top programs, where does Nation Ford volleyball’s Fischer sign?
The holidays can be stressful enough without trying to make one of the biggest decisions of your life during that same time.
But for Nation Ford senior Sophie Fischer, the month of December witnessed everything: her final days as a high schooler, a whirlwind of holidays — and the decision of where she wanted to play college volleyball.
Fischer made her choice to play at the next level official on Monday, Jan. 6, and will be going to the University of Kentucky. She graduated a semester early from Nation Ford High School to begin taking classes in Lexington, Ky., this month.
“It has been a crazy process,” Fischer said.
The time between guiding Nation Ford to its second straight 5A state title and picking Kentucky was a stressful one, Fischer said. Some of the top-ranked volleyball programs — including Nebraska, Penn State, and Florida; to go along with others such as South Carolina, Georgia and Clemson — courted her.
For several years, Fischer was verbally committed to the University of North Carolina, but she decommitted from the Tar Heel program around the same time the 5A volleyball playoffs started in October, leaving her future up in the air.
“There has been a lot of emotion after (decommitting from) UNC and stuff,” Fischer said. “I was traveling the entire month of December, and I was trying to balance things. Kentucky was my last visit. When I got on campus and walked into the gym, I knew. That campus is pretty, and the coaches are amazing people. There is a lot of support staff there.
“I knew it was the one.”
Starting college life early
Fischer said she is glad the decision has been made. A week after she signed her letter of intent, she’ll be reporting to Kentucky to start classes (Jan. 15) — having already finished up everything she needed to do to graduate from Nation Ford before the holiday break.
Fischer will be leaving behind a huge legacy at Nation Ford to go with the team’s two state championships. She finisher her career with 1,961 kills, 897 digs, 286 blocks and 152 aces in 508 sets played in roughly 194 matches over her four years at the school.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it if it wasn’t for my team being behind me,” she said. “It is really special.”
Kentucky volleyball finished in the top-16 in the country this past season, and Fischer said with part of the recruiting class that is coming in for 2020, she feels like the program can continue on an upward trajectory.
“I am excited to compete with other great players,” she said. “I want to make Kentucky known, even more than it is right now. I believe we have the girls there to do that now.”
Nation Ford head volleyball coach Carrie Christian said she feels like Kentucky is a great fit for Fischer.
“I am thrilled for her,” Christian said. “It is a great place for her. It is a great fit for her. It has a great culture. The coaches have built a great recruiting class.”
Fischer plans on majoring in either childhood education or kinesiology.
Mac Banks: mbanks@comporium.net, @MacBanksFM
This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 10:36 AM.