College-bound players lead Nation Ford, Fort Mill volleyball squads

Three Division I-caliber volleyball players highlight the Nation Ford and Fort Mill High rosters this season.

Nation Ford’s Jessica Kemp and Fort Mill’s Payton Carter and Tessa Grubbs, all 17, lead their respective Region III teams. The three are outside hitters,. all are at 6-foot or taller, and plan to play in college next year.

Kemp won’t travel far from home for college, choosing North Carolina State over Davidson College, Yale and Dartmouth.

The 6’4” senior said the N.C. State campus offered a lot of things she was looking for and “the players I met were really down to earth.”

Had Kemp opted for one of the Ivy League schools, her parents would probably only be able to make it to a couple games a year.

“I like the fact that my parents will be able to come and watch me play,” she said.

Although she can’t officially sign a scholarship until her senior season, Kemp said that she wanted the challenge of playing at a major Division I school.

Kemp started playing volleyball in eighth grade. What attracted college scouts’ attention was how much she grew and changed between her sophomore and junior seasons at Nation Ford.

Last season, Kemp had 305 kills, 103 blocks, 47 digs and 14 assist for Nation Ford, which made it to the second round of the 4A playoffs.

Kemp said she is a a perfectionist and will practice something repetitively until she gets it right.

“I hate when I make mistakes,” she said.

Kemp’s high school coach Carrie Christian remembers telling her as a freshman that she didn’t think she would play varsity volleyball.

“The work she put in to get to where she is at is incredible,” Christian said. “Kemp has been our go to the last two years. She can play anywhere on the court. She has really stepped up her game.”

Like Kemp, Grubbs has only been playing the sport that is taking her to college for four years.

Grubbs had interest from 13 schools, including North Carolina State, University of Florida, University of Colorado, Colorado State University, University of Connecticut and University of Central Florida.

Her pick, however, is the University of Tennessee.

“When I was there it really felt like a family,” she said. “The coaches were very welcoming.”

Grubbs started in volleyball at the urging of her friends in middle school. What started out as something she would try turned intofun anda stress reliever.

“I was able to just go out there and play instead of worrying about other things,” she said.

Grubbs improved her skills by playing year round and personalized instruction.

“I did a bunch of private lessons with my club team (Carolina UVC) and we went to a lot of showcases,” she said.

Last year Grubbs had 300 kills and 88 aces for Fort Mill in gathering All-Region honors.

Unlike Grubbs or Kemp, Carter, who is 6-0, knew where she wanted to go to school despite interest from schools such as Gardner-Webb University, UNC-Wilmington, Charleston Southern University and most of the schools in Big South Conference. Carter chose Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

“Liberty was always my first choice,” she said. “Once I got an offer from them, I didn’t consider anyone else. I love the Christian atmosphere there.”

Carter has been playing volleyball since she was in the fifth grade. She also plays year round.

“I love how every point is intense and that it’s a fast-moving game,” she said.

Carter said by picking a college early and committing to them it allows her to enjoy her senior year more.

“This senior year I can relax,” she said. “Last club season was pretty stressful.”

Last season Carter had 244 kills, 162 digs and 338 passes for Fort Mill, leading her to an All-Region selection.

Fort Mill head coach Gina Farley said her team would be different if she didn’t have Grubbs and Carter to anchor the squad.

“Their experience and leadership is pushing this team,” Farley said. “It makes the younger girls better. They are hungry for wins and they both are solid players.”

This story was originally published August 29, 2015 at 6:42 PM with the headline "College-bound players lead Nation Ford, Fort Mill volleyball squads."