Published: May 08, 2008 04:17 pm            

Fuller to play at Texas Wesleyan

RIO VISTA — Rio Vista senior Tabatha Fuller signed two national letters of intent Wednesday with Texas Wesleyan University and will be playing volleyball and softball this fall.

“[Texas Wesleyan] was the best choice, and it’s close to home,” Fuller said. “I hope to do the best I can do.”

Fuller was a multi-sport star for the Lady Eagles, lettering in basketball and track and field, in addition to volleyball and softball. Fuller said she wants to study nursing in college.

“I felt like she’s going to really help out behind the plate,” Texas Wesleyan head softball coach Shannon Gower said. “She’s really not only going to bring athletic talent, but also academics to the program, as well. I feel like she’s going to do well coming in as a freshman.”

Fuller joins a softball team coming off of a third-place finish in the Red River Athletic Conference, finishing with a 17-7 conference record, trailing only Northwood University and Bacone College.

This season, Fuller helped Rio Vista qualify for the Class 2A playoffs by finishing third in District 11-2A. The Lady Eagles were eliminated by Clifton in the first round.

Fuller will also be joining a volleyball team that reached the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Region VI finals last season. The Rams finished 32-16 overall and 10-0 in conference regular season play before losing in the conference finals to University of Texas-Brownsville.

While all of Fuller’s coaches will be sad to lose a player of her stature, they are happy to see her move on to the next level.

“I think she’s going to make an impact the first year,” Rio Vista volleyball coach Amy Bucek said. “She’s not going to have to sit there and learn the ropes. She’s a hard worker, a go-getter, and nothing is going to hold her back. I expect to see a lot from [Fuller] her freshman year.”

Fuller’s parents, Kenneth and Janet, were also in attendance to watch their daughter make her college destination official.

“It’s great,” Kenneth Fuller said. “We’re real proud of her. We understand that it’s a very good academic school and it’s real close to home, so we can keep an eye on her.”

Rio Vista softball coach Lonny Davis sees Fuller as a role model for younger kids.

“Being in a small town especially, some of them might think they might not have an opportunity,” Davis said. “But then they see this, and the ones that have gone before, like Katie Cobb in basketball, and they see that there is a chance. That it’s something to set their sights on, then dreams can come true.”

        

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