As one of four children, Briana Sutton always imagined herself attending college three hours away from home so she could experience an independent life outside of Williamsburg.
But when it came time to make one of the biggest decisions of her life, Sutton found that the place she belongs most is a mere 20-minute car ride away.
Sutton, an area volleyball star who will graduate this spring as one of the greatest to ever put on a Jamestown High jersey, recently committed to play for Christopher Newport University next season.
Sutton, a formidable all-state outside hitter who competed internationally last summer as a member of the U.S. Junior National A2 squad, was heavily recruited by a number Division I and Division II schools. She sacrificed the scholarship money, as well as the prestige that comes with being a Division I athlete, to be a part of a program she feels is established and offers the best chance to maximize her potential.
“I went [to CNU] and watched them play in the region finals, and it was really high-level volleyball,” said Sutton, who was considering Division I offers from schools such as the University of Memphis and North Texas. “I was really impressed with the team. I hadn’t considered [CNU] before since they were D3 and couldn’t offer scholarships, but the level they were playing at matched a lot of what I’d seen from some of the D2 and even DI schools that I had visited.”
CNU, a perennial D3 power, is in fact regarded as one of the best programs in the country having won six-straight USA South conference titles including back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances the past two seasons.
Sutton said she was impressed with CNU’s impressive volleyball resume, but added academics also played a big role on her decision.
She scored high enough on her SAT to be invited to join CNU’s pre-med program, which was a major attraction to someone hoping to major in either psychology or neurobiology and pursue a career in studying the brain and its functions.
“It was definitely a major contributor in my decision to go there,” Sutton said of the pre-med invitation. “That, along with the top-notch volleyball program, was just a perfect combination.”
At Jamestown, Sutton was a four-year starter and guided the Eagles to back-to-back state final fours her junior and senior years, including an appearance in the state-championship game in 2011 when she was voted first team all-state.
A shoulder injury plagued the beginning of her senior season, although the setback only proved how versatile a player she can be. Unable to perform a full swing without her shoulder dislocating, Sutton was forced into the role of libero and posted 262 digs for the season.
She returned to her post as an outside hitter later in the season, just in time to lead the Eagles to Bay Rivers District and Region I titles. In limited time at the net, Sutton still finished with just under 200 kills (196) on the season.
“She’s the real deal,” Stephenson said of Sutton, who he coached both at Jamestown and year-round on the local club team. “She showed this past season she can be more than just a dominant force at the net and really made a name for herself around the state.”
Jamestown coach Tom Stephenson views CNU as a perfect fit for Sutton, and praised her for overlooking the ego that comes with being a Division I athlete to put herself in the best position to succeed.
“The thing about Briana is she has always pushed herself and looked for a challenge,” Stephenson said. “A lot of athletes chase the reputation and scholarship money that DI schools offer, and Bri had that chance, so it speaks a lot about her and what she’s trying to accomplish for herself. She can come in and have an immediate impact on a nationally-ranked team that has achieved extreme success recently.
“At 5’10″, and with her athleticism, she has the potential to be a terminating hitter at the D3 level,” he said.
Sutton says she is relieved to have the stressful selection process over and is excited about now being able to focus on her future.
She will room with her friend and Jamestown High classmate Gaylin Glueck, who will run track at CNU, her freshman year and already has some ties with the Captains’ volleyball coaching staff.
Head coach Lindsay Birch, who has transformed CNU volleyball during her 11-year tenure with a career-record of 313-80, was a former Bruton High standout, and her assistant last year, Megan McWhorter, was a teammate of Briana’s sister, Tara, at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Additionally, former Jamestown standout Cory Harris (’09), a four-year standout at CNU who will graduate this spring and take on an assistant coaching position with the Captains in the fall, was coached by Briana’s mother, Leanne, in middle school.
Sutton will also join Peninsula Juniors Volleyball Club team members Maddie McCann and Rachel Close, 2013 graduates of Mathews, as freshman players next fall.
While sticking closer to home is not what Sutton originally had in mind, she is now looking forward to being around to help raise her nephew, who is due May 25, and also to watch her twin, Braden, a reclassified junior basketball standout at Walsingham Academy, finish his high-school playing career.
“I have no doubt I found the right place for me,” Sutton said.
