KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A pair of Park Hill volleyball teammates will head to college, but will play different sports.

Rachel Pella and Sabrina Lane were both key pieces that helped the Trojans reach the Class 4 playoffs this year.

Pella will play volleyball at Central College in Pella, Iowa – just a coincidence she said. Lane will throw a variety of events at Drury University in Springfield.

CODY THORN/Citizen photos
Park Hill students Rachel Pella, left, and Sabrina Lane signed letters of intent to play sports at the next level. Pella will play volleyball at Central College and Lane will compete in track and field for Drury.

“As a coaching staff we are thrilled for both of them,” Park Hill volleyball coach Lindsay Hood said. “We know that sports gave them the platform to keep growing into the people they’re going to become.”

Pella looked into Rockhurst and Avila as close-to-home options, but the Division III school was the best fit.

“They had an exercise science (major) thought it was a great program, they a great volleyball program and I really bonded with the girls and the coaches,” said Pella, who wants to be an athletic trainer after college. “It just felt like a good fit.”

Pella started playing volleyball more than 12 years ago at the YMCA and the chance to play at the next level was a big goal for her to accomplish. She and Lane played on the same club volleyball since they were 10 years old.

Lane will still keep a close tab on the Trojans going forward, not only if they can repeat as district champions, but how her sister, Emily, who will be a freshman in the fall, will do.

Lane looked at playing options for volleyball, but she gained attention for her throwing abilities for Rob Self’s track and field program.

“It’s been a long 12 years with volleyball,” Lane said. “Track is new and I’m happy to be going to college to learn more about it and get more training.”

Lane’s main event for the Trojans has been javelin, but she also throws discus. She was a sectional qualifier this spring for Park Hill.

She didn’t start throwing until eighth grade and the next year joined a club team to continue to improve her throwing.

She will compete in the discus, shot put, javelin and possibly hammer at Drury, a Division II school in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Lane hopes to be an architect after graduation.