Armwood volleyball players sign

Posted Apr 21, 2010 by Nick Williams

Updated Apr 21, 2010 at 01:55 PM

Armwood senior volleyball players Emilee Taylor and Laura Smith, both leaders on the Hawk’s Class 5A District 8 championship team, signed national letters-of-intent at the school on Wednesday.

Taylor, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, inked with Division II Flagler College while Smith, a setter, signed with Florida College in Temple Terrace.

Taylor was one of the most dominant hitters in Hillsborough County this past season with 335 kills and 73 aces. She also recorded 37 blocks and 90 digs to lead Armwood in one of its best seasons in program history. Taylor said she also had interest from Division I University of Louisiana at Monroe and NAIA Belhaven University.

Smith, who controlled Armwood’s offense with 389 assists, will join the defending and six-time USCAA Women’s National Volleyball Championship team at Florida College. She chose Florida College over Hillsborough Community College and South Florida CC.

Taylor and Smith are the first volleyball players at Armwood to sign with four-year schools in nearly a decade.

“To watch them grow and to see them reach the goals they set years ago is a good feeling,” Armwood coach Mike Wyatt said.

Armwood went 16-2 in the 2009 season and lost to Newsome in the 5A region semifinals.

To view photos from their signing, as well as other spring signings across the county, click here