Ryan Herman
Sports Editor

LA GRANGE — North Lenoir volleyball standout Heidi Milliken had a pinch-me moment. She had just signed her national letter of intent to play at Cape Fear Community College and kept checking to make sure her name was actually there.

It was. Come next summer, Milliken will actually be there as well.

The Hawks star and leader signed to play junior college volleyball for the Sea Devils Wednesday, fulfilling a four-year-long dream of playing the sport at the next level.

She even shed a few tears when the gravity of the moment actually set in.

"I'm just so happy," she said.

A four-year starter for the Hawks, Milliken has been used in just about every capacity on the volleyball court. She's been a setter and passer, and has been let loose as a hitter as well.

No matter what role she was asked to play, Hawks coach Heather Carson said Milliken did it by giving her all, and that's why she has the opportunity to play college volleyball.

"She loves volleyball. She's always gave 110 percent," Carson said. "Each year she's kind of had a different role. As a leader, she's stepped up and helped us out tremendously."

With plans to hopefully make a Division I roster at UNC Wilmington one day, Milliken said her love of the port city and to play for a solid program were what drew her to Cape Fear.

Even if she doesn't make it to UNC Wilmington via volleyball, she has her pursuit of nursing to fall back on.

"When I went to visit Cape Fear I immediately liked the coaches and automatically got along with my teammates," Milliken said. "It was like we were already playing as a team when I got there."

Not only does Milliken excelled at volleyball, she also excels in the classroom. The senior will graduate a semester early — "10 more days," she said — then plans on taking some college prep courses next semester.

But it's been her dedication to volleyball that is currently paving the way for her future.

"Endless summer workouts, tons of running … practice, practice, practice," Milliken said.

"I did it, I made it, I did what I wanted to accomplish. I'm going to play college ball," she added. "It's finally real. I thought I could do it and now it's actually done."