WVU Tech head volleyball coach Amber Linville and assistant coach Ron Martin have compiled a roster of international talent.
Included amongst that diverse group has been a bevy of talented players from the Mountain State.
Thursday afternoon Linville added another talented West Virginia player to the fold when Greenbrier East all-state middle blocker Nevaeh Wooding signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her career with the Golden Bears.
“My first visit there I was completely sold on the school and the program. I’m really happy to be able to have this opportunity to continue playing,” Wooding said. “I’m so excited to see what the future holds at Tech.”
While Tech was a perfect for Wooding in regards to her education, she also felt at home with Linville.
“She really liked Coach Linville. I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing, but Nevaeh said she did things a lot like I did,” Greenbrier East head coach Matt Sauvage said, laughing. “We were playing at Oak Hill this past season and Coach Linville came over and watched her play. She said definitely wanted Nevaeh and I think from then on her heart was always ready to go to Tech.”
Wooding has been a four-year varsity starter for Greenbrier East and one of Sauvage’s most reliable players over her career.
“Nevaeh has been one of our most consistent players over her four years. She has been the one I didn’t have to worry about,” Sauvage said. “You know what you are going to get out of her. She is going to do it well and do it the right way.”
After earning all-state honorable mention honors as a junior, Wooding was named second-team all-state last season.
“She enjoyed the big games and she never got so hyped it effected her game. A lot of players get too hyped, especially in volleyball with it being such a skill sport,” Sauvage said. “She never let it hurt her skills.”
The talented senior was also selected to represent the South team at the prestigious North-South All-Star matches.
Third all-time in blocks (203) and seventh all-time in kills (732) over her career as a Spartan, Wooding was a destructive force in the middle. After leading the team in blocks last season, Wooding earned East’s Best Defensive Player Award for 2022.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play volleyball for as long as I can. Playing for GEVB really paved the way for that,” Wooding said. “I wouldn’t be the player I am if it wasn’t for my coaches.”
The move to the next level always brings challenges for incoming freshman, but Sauvage feels Wooding will make an early impact for the Golden Bears.
“One thing she will need to work on is reading the setter. It is much different in college as opposed to college,” Sauvage said. “But, I feel like she will be able to come out and contribute right away.”