Red Devils send four to next level

The Allen Community College volleyball program is sending four more players to four-year schools.
Star hitter Andi Dowell will take her powerful swing north to Nebraska and join Chadron State University on the Division-II level.
“I just felt at home there,” Dowell said. “I think (the jump to Division-II) will be challenging, but I am ready for it and excited.”
Kansas City’s Park University double-dipped into the Red Devil market by recruiting hitter Sarah Baker and setter Sami Cloe.
“I have always wanted to go to Park because they have are really good at volleyball and it is close to home,” Baker said. “The coaching staff is amazing.”
Baker takes some credit in convincing Cloe to attend Park.
“I told her about the open gym. She was hesitant at first because it was farther from home, once she visited there, she really liked it.”
Cloe admits that having a teammate there will be nice.
“It makes it a lot easier,” Cloe said.
Baker agrees and is looking forward to their familiarity with each other.
“I think it will definitely help, because I am a hitter and having a setter that I have been hitting off of the last two years will help tremendously going into next year.”
Caitlin McDougald will join her teammates at the next level and will attend Southwest Christian University in Bethany, Okla.
McDougald, who echoes the sentiments of all the former Red Devils, thanks Allen coach Whitney Shaw for molding her game and giving her this opportunity.
“I definitely think I’m prepared to move on to a bigger school, because last year they worked with me a lot and I wouldn’t be where I am today without Whitney and Hayley (Mertens, assistant coach),” McDougald said. “Before I came here, I barely even played in high school, so they taught me basically everything I know. I never thought I’d be able to go to a four-year school and they were really big on giving me that opportunity.”
Shaw is pleased all four found such good landing spots.
“They are all going to very good volleyball programs,” Shaw said. “Park is always top-15 in the nation. Chadron is Division-II and Southwestern Christian’s coach is great. I am really happy for all of them.”
This makes five total Red Devils who have committed to four-ear schools with Joely Roe already having committed to Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Roe is already in South Dakota after graduating at semester.