The next step BC3 volleyball star heading to Point Park
PITTSBURGH — When Ashley Campbell went to pick a college, her sights were set on playing basketball.
Campbell, after all, was a 1,000-point scorer at Karns City and as it turned out, she returned to playing volleyball as well for the Pioneers.
Now, looking to finish up her degree, it’s volleyball that will help her do so,
Campbell was one of 10 recruits that will join Point Park University this season.
“I liked the city and the campus,” Campbell said. “It’ll be a big change, but I’ll adjust to it.”
The 5-foot-11 Campbell is coming off a season in which she was among the top middle hitters in the junior college volleyball ranks.
She was a two-time NJCAA All-Region performer with the Pioneers, where she was the 2009-10 Female Athlete of the year.
As a sophomore, Campbell hit an impressive .402 with 159 kills last year, after a freshman campaign that saw her have 232 kills and 42 blocks.
“Ashley’s athleticism is her strength,” said Point Park head coach Mike Bruno. “It seemed to me she dominated the (WPCC).
“Her talent level, from what I saw, was heads and shoulders above the rest.”
Bruno was able to see Campbell first-hand because Point Park’s junior varsity team schedules BC3 each year.
“Ashley really stood out,” Bruno said. “I asked (Pioneers’ volleyball coach) Rob (Snyder) about her plans after she was done. I know she’s gotten two good years of coaching Rob, plus she’s extremely athletic.”
“Yeah, (Bruno) talked to me last year,” Campbell said, “and he still knew I would be (at BC3) another year. I was told they were really interested in me.”
As Campbell played both volleyball and basketball in high school and at BC3, would she consider doing them both at Point Park?
Campbell, who will major in accounting at Point Park, did average 19.6 points and 10 rebounds as a senior with the Gremlins after scoring 13.9 and pulling down 7.4 rebounds as junior.
She followed up with strong numbers with the Pioneers.
“Basketball might interfere with the end of the season in volleyball,” Campbell said. “I’ve played basketball my whole life.”
“Obviously if she wanted to do both, it would be something we’d consider,” said Bruno, referring to Point Park women’s basketball coach and former BC3 coach Tony Grenek.
“This year, we haven’t finalized it yet, but we’d let her have the opportunity to make the (basketball) team,” Bruno said.
