Freeport senior Lauren Lampus, right, spikes the ball against Seton LaSalle during a WPIAL volleyball playoff game. Lampus is continuing her academic and volleyball career at Westminster College.

SARVER — Lauren Lampus went about her college search in the same way she went about her volleyball career at Freeport High School.

With determination and precision.

Lampus wasn't about to make a hasty decision. She did her due diligence.

“I visited a lot of schools — big schools, small schools, everywhere in between,” Lampus said.

The outside hitter was in high demand.

As a senior outside hitter for the Yellowjackets in the fall, Lampus had 158 kills and was voted the team MVP because of her ability to play everywhere on the court.

It's something Lampus has long prided herself in.

“I think playing the whole way around, being a six-rotation player, is something I always wanted to be. You always want to be good at everything and have the basic skills to play anywhere. It's all about helping the team,” she said.

Lampus narrowed her search down to small schools because she said, “it didn't take me long to realize that I didn't like big schools. I wanted to go to a smaller school because that was more of what I'm used to and college is already a big change.”

Westminster College ticked all the boxes.

Titans' coach Karrin Moore first saw Lampus at a club volleyball tournament and emailed Lampus expressing her interest.

Lampus plays for Pitt Elite.

“That's where a lot of college coaches see you because when you're in your high school season, that's when college coaches are in their seasons, too, and can't come to see you play,” Lampus said.

Lampus, though, kept her options open.

But Westminster always came back into the fore.

“It just felt like where I belonged,” Lampus said.

Lampus started playing volleyball in the fifth grade. She also played basketball, soccer, was a gymnast and achieved a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

During the spring, she's on the Freeport track and field team as a long and triple jumper.

That season is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Lampus' workouts aren't.

“Me and my family are doing at-home workouts,” Lampus said. “My sister (sophomore Erica Lampus) and I go outside and pepper with the volleyball. We're staying in shape.”

Lampus is also picking up some new hobbies to pass time until things get back to normal.

“It's been a big change,” Lampus said. “We've always been so busy and have had such a planned-out schedule. I've picked up embroidery. We're doing what we can to get through this.”