Jalyn
A trip into the gym to check out the sport was all Jalyn Slaughter needed to start her on the road to becoming one of the most prolific players in the state and a Division I athlete.
“She had never played volleyball in her entire life when she came in that summer and she was going to be a cheerleader, but she just wanted to try (volleyball) and see if she liked it,” Veterans head coach Nicole Miranda said. “She fell in love with it.”
“I liked the atmosphere of being so dependent on every part of your teammates,” Slaughter said. “Having that trust, chemistry and relationship is something I really enjoy about volleyball.”
Capable of scoring from either inside or outside, Slaughter led the state in kills with 347. She also made her presence felt defensively with 118 blocks, which was good for second in the state.
“I would definitely rather get the block,” Slaughter said. “A kill is great and it’s good for a little bit, but when you get a big block your teammates feed off of it. When it’s a big hitter or somebody that we’ve been trying to make sure our defense is in the right position for, that’s just one less thing your teammates have to worry about on the back row trying to dig them out.”
Along with libero Lauren Proulx, Slaughter is one of only two players to play all four years on the varsity volleyball team in the short history of the school. She has played a pivotal role in the development of the most successful volleyball program in the area and a consistent Final Four contender.
“It’s crazy to see how much we’ve grown and how much our program has grown,” Slaughter said. “We just kept getting better and better. It means a lot to me.”
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Along with the success came the attention from college coaches clamoring to have her play for them after high school. But they were not only battling each other, they were up against a multitude of basketball coaches who desired her ability in that sport, as well.
The basketball coaches at Mercer eventually won out, and Slaughter accepted a full scholarship to play for the Bears next year.
“It wasn’t a choice of which sport I liked better, because I love volleyball and I love basketball just as much,” Slaughter said. “I went on a couple of (college) visits, and when I went to Mercer it was where I felt that I needed to be. The coaches were great to me, and you just kind of get that feeling.”
Slaughter plans to attend medical school when she’s done playing for the Bears to pursue a career in anesthesiology. Her coach certainly believes she’s up for the challenge of such a difficult academic path.
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