Bedford volleyball standout picks her college

Nagy to play at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne

The Bedford volleyball team finished the 2010 season in teh Michigan high school final four. Shown are, from front left, Robin Brown, Mallory Lenhart, Anna Hays, back from left Ashley Sperling, Emily Blank, Stacy Nagy, and Emily Williams. Nagy, Hays, and Lenhart will continue their careers at the college level next season.

The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image

Stacy Nagy, center, a Bedford High School senior signs to play volleyball at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Ind.

When Stacy Nagy signed her national letter of intent this month, it capped a tempestuous five weeks for the Bedford senior.

Nagy will continue her volleyball career at Indiana Tech next fall after visiting the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics institution in Fort Wayne, Ind., in late March and giving an oral commitment two days later to play there. She then made her promise official May 3 by signing a binding agreement with the school, surrounded by friends and family.

"It's definitely a good accomplishment [to earn a college athletic scholarship]," Nagy said. "I get to finish my senior year without worrying about it because it's already done. Now I'll graduate and head off in August and be all set to go."

Two of Nagy's classmates at Bedford also will continue their volleyball careers in college. Anna Hays will attend Palm Beach Atlantic in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Mallory Lenhart is headed to Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio.

Nagy, a 6-foot-1-inch middle hitter, helped lead Bedford to an appearance in the state final four last season. The Mules ultimately fell to Farmington Hills Mercy in four games in the semifinals. She finished the season leading Bedford in kill efficiency and received All-Southeastern Conference honorable mention and all-academic team honors.

"Stacy comes from a fantastic high school program and club program and has an excitement to be a Warrior that will carry her far," Indiana Tech coach Kirsta Solberg said. "We are really looking forward to seeing Stacy develop with our program over the next four years."

Nagy also played for Premier Volleyball Club and will be joined at Indiana Tech by club teammate Alexis Morrison, a senior at Clay High School in Oregon. Two other Premier Volleyball alumni, Kelsea Fitzpatrick of Notre Dame Academy and Kelsea Nova of Bowsher High School, are on the team at Indiana Tech.

"I like it how [Solberg] gets people from around here," Nagy said. "It's kind of a hometown environment with all of those girls there."

The Bedford volleyball team finished the 2010 season in teh Michigan high school final four. Shown are, from front left, Robin Brown, Mallory Lenhart, Anna Hays, back from left Ashley Sperling, Emily Blank, Stacy Nagy, and Emily Williams. Nagy, Hays, and Lenhart will continue their careers at the college level next season.

Familiarity with her future teammates and proximity to home were two of several factors that played into Nagy's decision.

"It just felt like the right fit when I visited there," Nagy said. "Right when I got to campus for my visit, I loved it."

The Warriors finished last season with a school-record 34 wins and were ranked 13th in the national polls. They also advanced to the NAIA national tournament for the first time in school history.

"They have a really good team, plus good academics," Nagy said. "I'm really excited to go play there."

Contact Zach Silka at: zsilka@theblade.com or 419-724-6084.