Sophomore starters Shonte Seale of Barbados and Masaya Archbold a graduate of Ramstein High School in Germany have signed on to continue their volleyball careers at the 4 year level.
Archbold was the first to sign as she will move on to Park University in Gilbert, Arizona. Park is an NAIA school competing in the California Pacific Conference. The Buccaneers finished atop the CAL PAC standings but were not post-season eligible as it was their first year competing.
Archbold, and Opposite for the Ladyjacks, was a two-year starter. She amassed 201 kills, 132 digs and 71 blocks in her 52 matches played over a two years span. She will have three years of eligibility with the Buccaneers due to last season's Covid year not counting towards eligibility. Archbold truly enjoyed her time at DCB, "My time at DCB meant the world to me. Playing college volleyball has always been a dream of mine and becoming a Ladyjack made that dream come true!"
"She was one of the first players I recruited during my first full year at DCB. An absolutely great kid! Got to know her family a little and I wish nothing but the best for her. She worked her butt off every day, games or practices. Wish I had a team full of players with her desire and commitment. I know she will do well and can't wait to watch her play!" Head Coach Mike Smith
Seale is off to Norfolk State University an NCAA Division I school in Norfolk, Virginia. It is believed that Seale is the first DCB volleyball player to ever be offered a full scholarship at an NCAA Div. I school.
She was the team's best player and was a MonDak All-Region and Region XIII All-Conference selection player for the 2020-21 season. She leads the MonDak conference in kills with 312, was second in kills per set at 3.85, was 8th in hitting percent. 11th in blocks and 6th in Aces per set.
Her career DCB numbers are staggering. In just 47 matches over two years the 5'11 outside hitter earned 635 kills, 393 digs, 93 blocks, and 69 service aces.
The Spartans went 1-5 in a shortened Covid season that they had to pull out of after a game on Feb. 12. They play in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference with opponents Coppin State U, Morgan State, South Carolina State, Howard U., and Delaware State. Morgan and Coppin also recruited Seale before she ultimately chose Norfolk. "Norfolk State University was a great fit for me. I did a lot of deep and great research on the program I'll be getting into. I really liked their coaching style and how they are a family-like team. I've developed a great connection with the coach and I believe that Coach Bullock will be the coach to nip those skills that aren't as high as others, in the aim of me becoming a great student-athlete on and off the court.
Seale credits DCB with helping to create the player she is today. "Being at DCB has been a great yet demanding experience. Coming into the program, I always had the goal of bettering my skills and moving on to an NCAA D1, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy. Having to balance early classes and late practice sessions, or late road games and early morning classes was mentally tiring. DCB has prepared and taught me how to fight to the last call, no matter what happens on the court you still have to be successful academically and the littlest player with hard work and focus can still become someone great. Coach Smith knew he had a good one when Seale hit the floor in January of 2019. "I knew she was a talented athlete and hoped she would be an impact player for us. She has been that and more! Great kid, hard worker obviously, and very driven to reach her goal. She is a great student-athlete and a very mature and hard-working young lady! She has helped us build our program not only with her success but has opened up a valuable resource of talented athletes and students from Barbados. It wouldn't surprise me if there is another future Spartan on our fall roster this year!"