Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Polk County’s college-bound senior volleyball players decided Thursday to officially end their careers just as they began them – side by side.

Mia Bradley, Sophia Overholt and Morgan Yoder kicked off their National Signing Day ceremony in Polk County’s auditorium by doing the signing portion of the festivities together, just the three of them at the table decorated with banners and balloons representing their future colleges.

The separate family and friend photos came later. For the trio of four-year starters who helped bring back-to-back state titles to Polk County, the moment offered a final opportunity to achieve one more thing together.

The day also marked a chance for the Wolverine volleyball program to celebrate – it’s believed to be the first time that three players have signed college letters-of-intent in the same year, and the signings will give Polk County its first college players since Katie Ruff wrapped up her career at Brevard College in 2016.

“It’s very exciting, and I think it speaks volumes for our program and just the weight that those three have carried for our program the last four years,” said Polk County head coach Molly Hill.

“There was no doubt in my mind that they could all do and that they all wanted to play at the next level. So just to see that dream come true for them is really exciting.”

Bradley and Yoder are off to South Atlantic Conference schools and will be future conference rivals, Bradley off to University of Virginia’s College at Wise and Yoder heading for Mars Hill College. Overholt, meanwhile, is heading for USC Upstate and is believed to be the first Division I signee in program history.

While each of the three will wear different uniforms next season, Hill said their connection to Polk County volleyball will remain.

“We’re already planning to bring the team next year when Virginia Wise plays at Mars Hill, and then take the team to go see Sophia at Upstate,” said Hill, who played collegiately at Lees-McRae. “I just feel like this is going to grow for our program and hopefully spread to other athletes and show them how exciting the next level is.”