Lexi Vance to play volleyball at NIACC

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Many argue the Chicago Bulls were broken up too soon.

Lexi Vance feels that her and her high school “buds” were broken up too soon.

“There is a group of friends I’ve had since we we’re all freshman,” Vance said. “My favorite memories in high school were with them.

“Going into our final months of high school … those were going to be the memories we would probably remember best.”

Vance describes the closure of school in mid-March followed by the ultimate cancellation as “bittersweet.”

“I missed all the laughs we would have had together,” said Vance, who was among those Charles City graduates participating in the recent informal ceremony in the high school’s parking lot, “but we’re going to heal from this.”

Vance and most of her friends are going their separate ways while continuing their education. For the immediate future, Vance will be staying closer to home as she has signed on to play volleyball for North Iowa Area Community College.

“I’m very excited,” Vance said. “I’m looking forward to working with (NIACC volleyball coach) Chris Brandt.”

Vance played volleyball all four years at Charles City. During her senior season, Vance often came off the bench as a defensive specialist as she was credited with nearly 100 digs, and to bolster the service-line rotation as she converted 89 % of her serve attempts.

In addition to volleyball, Vance has participated in other sports during her years at Charles City.

“I decided to go out for track this season,” she said. “I played tennis when I was a junior, but for my senior year I wanted to be coached by the Rahmillers.”

The husband-and-wife couple, Ryan and Amanda Rahmiller, both run the Comet varsity track program.

“I heard they were good coaches. I was bummed that I didn’t get a full season with them,” Vance said.

At NIACC, Vance plans to major in social work and minor in criminal law, and to eventually continue her studies at the University of Iowa.