Knoch senior Brynne Smith, flanked by parents Scott and Joan Smith, signs a letter of intent to play both softball and volleyball at Penn State Behrend. She plans to major in biology. Submitted Photo

JEFFERSON TWP — When it came to college, Knoch senior Brynne Smith figured volleyball would be her sport of choice.

But it proved too hard to say goodbye to 14 years.

“I’ve been playing softball since I was 4,” Smith said. “While looking at colleges, my thoughts were on playing volleyball. But then, playing this season ... I didn’’t want my senior year to be my last year of softball.”

It won’t be.

Smith recently signed a letter of intent to extend her volleyball and softball careers to Penn State Behrend. She plans to major in biology and possibly go into pre-med down the road.

She had also considered California (Pa.), Long Island University, Geneva and Cedarville (Ohio) for volleyball only. Her visit to Behrend changed all of that.

“I went up there and it felt like home,” Smith said. “And when I found out both coaches were going to allow me to play both sports, that they would work it out with each other, I got pretty excited about it.”

Smith is an outfielder for Knoch and is batting .480 so far this season. She has been one of the Knights’ leading hitters. She played setter for Knoch’s volleyball team the past two years after playing outside hitter in her first two seasons.

“She wanted to try playing setter as a junior and we gave her that chance,” Knoch volleyball coach Diane Geist said. “We play a 5-1 formation and you need a front row setter there. Brynne is a tall girl and she worked out well there.

“I love the fact she’s going fot it, trying to play both sports in college. If she doesn’t try it, she’ll always wonder if she could have pulled it off. If it turns out to be too much on her, maybe her class schedule works better with one sport and she chooses that way. But I see no reason why she can’t do both.”

Smith pointed out that she juggles both sports now, being a member of a club volleyball team.

“We have a tournament in Cleveland this weekend,” she said of her club volleyball team. “I’m used to switching from one sport to the other.”

Knoch softball coach Chris Gardner is confident Smith will find quick success at Behrend.

“I think she can start for both teams as a freshman, get plenty of playing time right away,” Gardner said. “Brynne is an impressive athlete and she’s a leader. She will fit in well up there.”

She’ll be playing for two good teams as well. Behrend’s volleyball team finished 21-7 last season, 8-1 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play. The Lions made the conference semifinals.

The lone setter coming back is sophomore and Seneca Valley graduate Cassidy Matteo.

“The volleyball coach there (RyanLaing) told me he expects me to step right in and play right away,” Smith said.

The Lions’ softball team is is 26-8 so far this season, 14-0 in AMCC play. Behrend’s league record in softball is 54-6 over the past four seasons. Coach Ashley Gruber, a former standout player there has over 200 career wins at Behrend and has guided the team to five AMCC titles in the past 11 years.

“I know they have outstanding programs in both sports and I’m excited to be joining them,” Smith said.