AAU teammates all commit to Division I volleyball programs

MONROE — When St. Mary Catholic Central’s volleyball team played Bedford last season, Jessica Costlow and McKenna Payne kept an eye on the other side of the net.

They were watching Victoria Gray.

Michigan Elite, their AAU team, needed a middle hitter.

Gray looked like a perfect fit. Costlow and Payne started recruiting the Bedford sophomore.

“We saw her when we played Bedford last year,” Payne said. “We kept tabs on here. Me and all the players on our club team reached out and talked to her.”

It was a bit of a tough sell.

At the time, Gray considered herself a basketball player who dabbled in volleyball.

Costlow and Payne made it hard to say no.

“Obviously, I knew them,” Gray said. “We got to schools that are close. They have been nothing but super welcoming and super friendly. Those are two of the girls I am close to. They made the experience so much easier.”

Not only did Costlow and Payne convince Gray to join their AAU team, they got her to switch sports after Michigan Elite placed second in the national finals.

The trio all recently made commitments to Division 1 volleyball programs.

Payne was the first to decide, heading west to the University of Utah.

“When I first saw Kenna sign, I was so excited,” Gray said. “This is rare. We won’t be going to college for two more years. Those two have been recruited for volleyball their whole lives and it was over in an instant.”

An instant later, it was over for Coslow and Gray.

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Costlow picked the University of Toledo – a school that is her father’s alma mater and where her sister currently is going to school.

Gray cast her lot with Indiana, getting a chance to play in the Big Ten.

All three are delighted with their choices.

“I chose Utah because I’ve known for a long time I wanted to be a student athlete in college and Utah had a competitive volleyball program and strong academics,” Payne said. “When I first met the players and coaches at Utah, I knew it was where I wanted to be. They have such a family culture.”

The daughter of Paul and Anja Payne wants to study business and marketing.

“I like talking to people,” she said.

When Payne arrives on campus, Utah will be joining a new conference.

“Right now, they are in the Pac 12, but in 2025 when I get there, they will be in the Big 12,” she said.

Costlow also found a family atmosphere at Toledo.

“I really liked the coaches,” she said. “You could tell they are very friendly. They bring their kids to practice sometimes.”

Toledo also was a good fit for her career plans.

“I kind of like the idea of majoring in biomedical engineering and they have a really good engineering program,” said the daughter of Michelle and Todd Costlow. “Plus, I liked the idea of staying close to home.”

Both Payne and Costlow were recruited as liberos.

“I play libero for my club team,” Payne said. “In high school, I do whatever I can to help the team. I am setting right now.”

Costlow is a hitter for SMCC.

“I played libero in my 13 (and under) club year, but in high school, I’ve been a hitter,” she said. “It will be a transition. In club, I will work mainly in defense. I really like defense, but it will be much different.”

Gray will play middle hitter for Indiana.

“When I get there, they will have three middles including me,” she said.

Becoming a Hoosier felt right for Gray.

“Honestly, it was just a feeling,” she said. “As soon as I got on the Indiana campus, it was a no-brainer. When you know, you know. Everyone always told me that, but I never really understood it.”

The last few months have been a whirlwind for the 2023 Monroe County Region Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

“It’s still crazy to me,” said the daughter of Kristy and Mike Gray of Temperance. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem real. I still feel like a basketball player, but now I know I am going to be playing volleyball in college.”

She will be playing Division 1 volleyball along with her AAU teammates.

“I am incredibly proud of them,” Payne said. “We all went through this together. We all talked about it and had so much fun with it. Now, everyone is committed.”

Getting their college choices out of the way lets the trio concentrate on completing their last two seasons of high school volleyball.

SMCC currently is ranked No. 2 in Division 3 and Bedford is tied for 10th in Division 1.

“I definitely enjoyed some of the (recruiting) process, but it was stressful,” Payne said.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Payne, Costlow, Gray land Division 1 volleyball deals