Payton Davis signs to Lewis-Clark State College

Turner and the rest of the players preach about the program is teaching life lessons with the sport, something that Davis said was an important factor for her in making her college decision.

"When I first thought of L-C as one of my top choices, I wasn't necessarily looking for volleyball, but the people who came with it," Davis said. "The coaches and the players both showed a really positive atmosphere and I was in love with how much support I felt. I actually had a visit down there before I had committed and I had a tour of everything: tour of the campus and the coaches made sure I was prepared and everything and I went to lunch with them afterwards and they had discussed what I'd seen and all that stuff, just making sure that I felt more at home, and I was also brought to team bonding, just getting me in touch with the team and making sure that I had felt like I was at home there."

Davis also described several experiences pertaining to that bonding and people element – including the LCSC staff promising Davis her number that she plays with for Oakesdale – number 10. Davis also stated that some of the players and coaches congratulated her after Oakesdale had won the state championship.

For Davis' parents, Aaron and Jennifer, they described how excited they were that their daughter had committed to LCSC.

"We didn't tell Payton what our favorite school was that we wanted her to choose," Jennifer said. "Aaron and I would talk to each other and say 'oh my gosh, we hope she chooses L-C.'"

Aaron again added that Fazzari's was a part of him and Jennifer wishing that Payton would choose LCSC.

Aaron also further expounded on the fact of how well the staff and players had treated not only Payton, but him and Jennifer as well, and how excited he and Jennifer are to see Payton grow as a person under the LCSC banner.

He also noted the added benefit of Payton being able to do her laundry at home.

With her enrollment set for the fall of 2024, Davis has one more season playing for the Nighthawks volleyball team in 2023, and is motivated to bring one final championship to Oakesdale in her final year.

"I'm super motivated," Davis said. "I want to do whatever I can to help the team, just like how I did playing middle and setter last year. I'm going to do whatever it takes whenever it takes. I'll put in the time and the effort whenever, not just in practices, but my own time. Obviously winning the state championship is a big part of that season, and I'd love to win it again.

"But I think it's just (about) making people better, especially my other teammates, just trying to help them with whatever they need and just being a big impact on the team. People look at me as a good volleyball player but I want to be more of an impact to my teammates and my community, not just the main player who helped bring home the gold ball."