Clearwater's Salava commits to Belmont

Clearwater rising senior Channing Salava, a Times first-team All Suncoast setter, has orally committed to play for Belmont University, a Division I program in Nashville.

Salava also visited Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast, but was immediately drawn to Belmont, which was "completely different from anything I thought I wanted."

Salava, a second-team all-state selection in Class 5A, offered a unique blend of setting and hitting talent for the Tornadoes, which reached the region final. Known for her explosiveness, leaping ability and, strong southpaw jump serve (just ask Times writer Brandon Wright - see below), Salava will be the one that sets the tone this year for Clearwater.

She just wanted to make sure her college plans were set - early.

"I wanted to feel secure my senior year," Salava said. "I know all my sisters friends and teammates that graduated this past year - they were running all around their senior years, stressing out about it. I wanted to get it done earlier.

"And when I stepped on Belmont's campus, I absolutely knew I wanted to go there."

Belmont is coming off its most successful season in program history. The Bruins went 24-7, winning the Atlantic Sun championship and earning the team’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

And for those of you who missed Wright's first-person story last year on trying to return Salava's serve, here's a second chance:

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/11/02/news_pf/Sports/Serve_me_up_a_big_pie.shtml

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Times photo of Clearwater's Channing Salava. Photo by Kathleen Flynn.

Comments

what a great blog topic this it.... You put this article up why?

She is a great player!