Junior Jacque Smith verbally committed to playing volleyball at Kansas State University April 4th. Smith will be attending K-State in the fall of 2017 and will play collegiate volleyball all four years.

According to Smith, scouts from colleges across the country frequently attend her club team games and tournaments, looking for athletes to play in college.

Smith made her April 4 verbal commitment after “finally visiting” K-State’s campus in Manhattan, Kan. the weekend before. Prior to her decision, she had been looking to play at other schools, including Creighton University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

On the evening of April 4, K-State volleyball coach Susie Fritz texted Smith asking if they could chat. They called on the phone, Smith asked her some questions about the school and what the team does, and Smith said she would “love to be a part of” K-State’s team.

Smith will continue playing STA volleyball in the back row, and again in club volleyball during STA’s off-season.

Smith says chose K-State because the school offers a specific program in physical therapy she wants to study and because she loves the campus and the environment. As far as the volleyball team, Smith “can’t wait” to be a part of it.

“I’m looking forward to being on a really competitive team, but a family,” Smith said. “You’re with them all the time, so they pretty much are your second family.”