Middle blocker had 153 kills, 50 blocks and 37 aces for Gavilan
in fall, helping the Rams win their first conference title in
volleyball
GILROY — After her senior season at Sobrato High School in 2007, Cheyenne Hambey’s volleyball future was a bit cloudy.
The first-team all-leaguer had just helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to a Santa Teresa Division title, yet she was up in arms about continuing her career.
All that changed when Gavilan women’s volleyball coach Kevin Kramer came knocking.
“Kevin told me that I have a lot more to give and there is a whole nother door,” Hambey said. “He got me where I need to be today.”
The Gavilan sophomore who played a pivotal part on another conference-championship team — the 2009 Lady Rams won their first title school history — began writing the next chapter of her volleyball story Tuesday, signing her Letter of Intent to play at Holy Names University in Oakland this fall.
“You never really think that you will make it to this point,” Hambey said. “Most people think that they need to be recruited out of high school to play anywhere. That’s not my story. I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I wouldn’t be the player that I am today.”
Hambey, at 6-foot middle blocker, racked up 153 kills, 50 blocks and 37 aces during the 2009 season. The Lady Rams stormed through the Coast Conference South en route to a 9-1 record and a share of first place.
They overcame past demons by defeating Cabrillo College and West Valley College and nearly came away with a victory in the NorCal Regional Playoffs, losing a heartbreaking five-set match against Diablo Valley College in the first round.
“My team is the reason I am here today,” Hambey said. “They pushed me every day. Them and Kevin and my mom had my back every single day. They are the reason I am continuing to play. I owe it to them.”
Hambey’s contributions and her overall attitude and approach toward the game led to a First-Team All-Conference nod, and ultimately the opportunity to play at the next level.
“They will get a level of intensity that I don’t think they have seen before,” Kramer said of what Hambey will bring to the court at Holy Names. “She wants to win. She wants to compete at the highest level and that will rub off on her teammates.”
Holy Names second-year coach Dwight Combs was also in attendance for Hambey’s signing and concurred with Kramer’s assertion that Hambey is the type of player his team needs.
“One of the things that I talk to my kids about is your mind needs to be stronger than your body if you want to be a champion,” Combs said, “And that’s one of the things with Cheyenne that I saw in her. She is mentally tough, she’s determined, and she doesn’t want to give up. She will find a way and that’s something that I can’t coach.”
Though she needed some coaxing from Kramer and Combs, the factor that sealed the deal was the proximity of Holy Names, which is one hour and 30 minutes north of Gavilan.
“My mom comes to all of my games. It’s kind of her thing,” Hambey said, shifting her eyes toward her mom who was among the 15 people, including her Gavilan teammates, present to share the moment. “It’s convenient that it’s far enough away but not too far that you can’t come home.”
Robin Hambey, Cheyenne’s mom, said she always sits in the same spot, “so she sees me at the net,” and is thrilled to see how far her daughter has come.
“She could have left on a high note in high school, and again (at Gavilan) but she needs to finish the dream, and she has two more years of the journey,” Robin said. “We are a sports oriented family and I couldn’t imagine not being in the stands watching her play.”
