With another fall sports season under way, many student-athletes will be trying to carve a pathway to playing at the next level, but for Kristin Spengler, that road has already been mapped out.

Spengler, a right side hitter on the girls volleyball team for Whitehall, will be heading to Towson University following her senior season. The junior made that decision last year after generating interest from college recruiters as part of East Coast Power Volleyball.

Spengler has been a part of ECPV since she was 15-years-old. Prior to that, she played for Court Authority Volleyball and then with Synergy Volleyball. Her involvement with these local clubs led her to ECPV which competes nationally in different age groups. It’s here where she stared attracting attention.

One of those people happened to be Towson head coach Don Metil who took an interest in Spengler. He would videotape the games and was impressed by her ability to generate offense as a setter. Spengler said that as a left-handed setter, she could disguise her intentions since she didn’t have to twist her body like a right-handed setter. This became a valuable offensive weapon since the defenders would have to be wary of a pass or shot. Eventually they began talking to one another during her freshman season, and after she visited the campus, she knew Towson was the place she wanted to be.

“It was everything I liked in a school,” said Spengler. “It was a perfect fit for me.”

It also offers a top notch business program, and that was a major factor in her decision as well since she will be enrolled as an accounting major.

The Tigers compete in the Colonial Athletic Association and had a 26-6 record last season. Towson is located near Baltimore, Maryland and competes in Division I.

While ECPV has a Lehigh Valley team, Spengler opted to play for King of Prussia where the level of competition is a little more robust and the schedule is more challenging. Currently Spengler competes with Empire as part of ECPV. It’s a 16U team that competes nationally.

Spengler comes into this season as one of only a handful of players with varsity experience for Whitehall. Last season she was a Eastern Pennsylvania Conference all-star third team selection, and coming into this season, Spengler is hoping to guide this young team back to the playoffs.

“This year as a team, we want to get further than we did last year,” said Spengler. “I want to make it to the [district] finals.”

The Zephyrs made the postseason last year, defeating Pottsville in the first game of a doubleheader, but lost to Liberty in the nightcap.

Spengler knows the road this year back to the playoffs may be challenging since they have a young roster this season, but that fact hasn’t diminished her desire to get back to the postseason.

“I want to help out the team any way I can,” said Spengler. “We have a lot of young girls this season, but we’re going to be ready for the challenge.”

While she’s primarily a right-side hitter for the Zephs, Spengler prides herself in playing all phases. She led the team in kills last season and should be a force at the net again this year.

Through her involvement with volleyball, from the various club teams to her time as a varsity member at Whitehall, the hours devoted to the game, as well as the travel, have meant she’s needed a huge support system. Spengler said that her family has played a vital role in helping her. Playing close to Philadelphia as part of ECPV, as well as shuttling from tournaments, has required a lot of personal investment from those around her, and she’s grateful for their help.

“My family has been very important,” said Spengler. “They’re my biggest supporters.”