Sedona Red Rock High School’s star senior volleyball player will be joining her best friend to compete at the college level.

Brenna Barker, the Scorpions’ setter, signed her National Letter of Intent on April 17 at the high school to play volleyball at the University of Charleston, a top-ranked private college in the heart of Charleston, W.Va.

Barker will be joining Sedona alumna Katie Furlong at the NCAA Division II school.

“My best friend plays volleyball there, so that was a big part of the decision,” Barker said. “I went on a [campus] visit and really liked it, and I liked the girls and the coach.”

After sending an email to Charleston Head Volleyball Coach Jason Kozak, Barker received a text from Furlong saying Kozak called to ask about Barker. Kozak got Barker out for a visit and everything fell into place.

“Every set Brenna gave Katie was a kill, so the coach was impressed with their chemistry,” Danni Barker, Brenna’s mother, said. “Brenna also integrated with the other girls and the other girls really liked her, so that was a big deal, too. That was a big selling point.”

Barker will receive a partial scholarship and play setter for the team.

As a senior and a three-time varsity letterman, Barker led the Scorpions to a Division IV State Championship, leading the state in assists with 9.2 per set and was sixth in the state for aces with 1.1 per set. Barker also received first team all-state and first-team all conference honors, after coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament her sophomore year.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, April 24, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.