Lady Blackhawk signs with Carroll College

SEELEY LAKE - "Dani is now one of seven percent," said Seeley-Swan High School Head Volleyball Coach Janelle Greenwood. "In the nation, only seven percent of high school athletes play at the next level."

Danielle "Dani" Sexton will be among 12 other players on the Carroll College Halos Junior Varsity Volleyball team for the 2023-2024 season. She signed to play with the Halos this past January.

"It's always been my dream to go to the next level and play," Sexton said. "I'm excited to still be playing and being on a team."

Sexton started playing volleyball in fifth grade at Seeley Lake Elementary.

"I knew I loved it as soon as I touched the ball," Sexton said. "It was just fun being on a team together, making plays together and the competitiveness."

Her sophomore year, Sexton settled into the defensive specialist and libero, positions she continued for the rest of her high school career.

"I was okay at hitting and setting but in the back row I got to really go for the ball and make the cool plays," Sexton said.

Sexton has played for several coaches, many of which inspired her.

While Brett Haines was never her volleyball coach, he coached her in basketball and track. Sexton said he really helped keep her going, kept her focused and told her the truth about what she needed to work on.

Shelby Holmes brought the "Holmes coaching vibe" to the court. Sexton felt she was a wealth of knowledge, had high expectations but provided the team with the tools and encouragement to meet them.

As a senior, Sexton worked with Greenwood outside of practice. She said she learned a lot about the sport that not only helped her grow individually but helped the whole team. The 2022 District tournament game against Valley Christian that the Lady Blackhawks won in five matches was a favorite for Sexton.

"That was the best game we had," Sexton said. "We worked together and fought through it. At that moment, the seniors knew it was almost over for us but we wanted to go further and we did."

In her 10 years of coaching, 2022 was Greenwood's first year coaching at SSHS. Greenwood said Sexton had 431 digs, the most any player she has coached has had in one season.

Sexton's other statistics her senior year included 59 aces, 28 kills and 17 assists. She was selected for the 1st Team All-Conference, was one of three in District 13-C that made the All-State Team and was the Lady Blackhawks Most Valuable Player.

Sexton toured Carroll her junior year. Carroll College was one of the only schools she applied to that offered a four-year prelaw and business degree and had a volleyball program. She attended their volleyball camp that summer and was invited to practice with the term end of August.

"Dani was in our gym last summer for camp and she fit right in," wrote Maureen Boyle, Carroll College's head volleyball coach, in an email. "She's got tremendous character and meshed with our current players very well." 

After adding the JV team to the program at Carroll, Boyle realized that their program offers an opportunity to more young females looking for a chance to play college ball.  

"Dani is a 'go-getter' - she doesn't like to lose!" Boyle added. "She is one of those players that would run through the wall for her team. That quality is rare these days!" 

Sexton will join the team in August. Boyle expects Sexton will continue in her role as a defensive specialist and said her passing skill will likely give her time on the court.

Greenwood said Sexton is the third player she has coached that moved up to play college volleyball.

"It is exciting. It is always fun to watch them go on," Greenwood said.

"One thing about sports, especially volleyball and basketball, is you can always play it. It's always going to be something you can hold onto."