Sophomore Brooke Redmond’s heart bleeds volleyball, so the three-sport star athlete at North Iredell cut soccer out of the equation this spring in favor of spending more time working on her craft.
Two years removed from winning the volleyball 3A state title, the Raiders finished 26-2 last season and were the state runners up to nationally ranked Cardinal Gibbons of Raleigh. Led by Redmond, North Iredell is expected to have another strong season this coming fall, and she’s determined to be prepared.
“I’m real excited,” Redmond said. “I can’t wait. We’ve got a couple new girls coming in next season, too, who are real good.”
The additions, according to Redmond, will include Statesville Christian School standout Madison Vaughn. The two play for the same Junior Olympic volleyball team, I.C. Stars.
Vaughn, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker, finished with 344 kills, 73 blocks and 38 aces as a sophomore this past season for SCS. She was named South Piedmont Athletic Association player of the year and All-State in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association.
“I’m excited about her coming, because she’s a really good volleyball player and she will help our program out a lot,” Redmond said. “We’re going to be pretty good again next season.”
Redmond just helped the North Iredell girls basketball team reach the state semifinals for the second time in as many years. She averaged 11 points and nearly nine rebounds a game.
As she stepped off the basketball court, her focus returned to volleyball.
“Soccer is a sport I like a lot and it keeps me in shape, but volleyball, that’s really what I want to do,” said Redmond, who shunned cleats and shin guards to rejoin her J.O. team.
As a freshman, the North Iredell girls soccer team utilized Redmond’s services in the midfield. She didn’t net a lot of goals but created plenty of scoring opportunities for her teammates. The combination of strength, size and footwork made Redmond tough to defend. She could withstand contact and maintain possession.
Redmond said she first entertained the idea of not playing soccer at the beginning of this school year. Debate gained momentum during basketball season.
Ultimately, she decided to “take a break” and devote herself to her passion: volleyball. An outside hitter with few weaknesses, Redmond was second to Raiders teammate and county player of the year Haley Rhyne in kills (309), digs (253) and aces (48) last season.
“I’m just taking a season off,” Redmond said of soccer. “I’m not quitting it completely. I’m going to play next year — pretty sure.”
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