Haven King will continue playing volleyball in college.
A dominating outside hitter for the Waynesboro Area Senior High School varsity girls’ volleyball team all four years on the team, King will attend University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. Pitt-Greensburg competes on the NCAA Division III level and is a member of the Alletheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
“I’ve been a part of the varsity team for all four years, and it has definitely shaped me into the person I am today,” said King, who earned All-Colonial Division First Team honors as well as team MVP distinction in 2023. “I don’t think without this team I would be where I am today. This team helped prepare me for college.”
Playing under the watchful eye and strong coaching of Kim Saunders, herself a collegiate volleyball player, also helped King’s case for taking her game to a higher level. Saunders, not one to mince words, has thrown all of her support behind King.
“Her communication, her work ethic, she’s a tremendous gym rat, she’s always trying to improve herself,” Saunders said. “That’s what really makes her special. That’s what we saw in her as a freshman. She’s a tremendous leader; she’s quiet, she shows by example.”
King, who finished her high school career with 470 kills, helped the Maidens to a second-place finish in the Colonial Division this past season. One of her best memories was a victory against Big Spring late in the season that avenged an earlier-season defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs and kept them from winning the division.
Waynesboro won the last five matches of the season to finish 12-6.
“I love the coach (Kevin Conroy),” said King. “He is the best coach I met throughout my visits. He knows what he wants. He’s building the team. My freshman year will be his third year. He hasn’t seen me in person, but on film he thinks I am an overall good player and wants me to be on the rotation outside.”
“Six rotation means she’s going to get to use all her skills,” Saunders said. “She won’t specialize. She’s used to that. That’s the type of play she wants.
“Her jumping ability, her serving, her top foot spin, jump serve, float spin serve, defense, she can do it all. Her knowledge of the game. I think she’s going to walk on the court and compete as a freshman.”
King is 5-foot-6 with a vertical leap of 92 inches. The net height is 7 ¼ inches.
She earned All-Colonial Division Second Team as a sophomore and Honorable Mention as a junior.
King isn’t done with volleyball yet. She will soon begin another season with club volleyball for Chambersburg Area Volleyball Express.
“Those tournaments will help her stay in match shape,” said Saunders. “She’ll probably work out some here at the gym.”
