Ali Rumpel’s surroundings the next few years will look much different than Watkinsville.
Rumpel, who recently completed her senior volleyball season at Athens Academy, signed a scholarship to continue playing the sport at Hawai’i Pacific, located in Honolulu. She did so after achieving high levels of success with the Lady Spartans.
Interestingly, Rumpel’s athletic path nearly took her in a totally different direction.
In a 2018 article, Rumpel told The Oconee Enterprise that she originally intended to only play basketball. However, an incentive from her parents convinced her to give volleyball a try.
Rumpel’s parents told her that if she tried out for her middle school volleyball team, they would buy her an iPhone. Though she was only a manager her first year in volleyball, the sport had a hold on Rumpel.
“I liked being the manager, I liked being around the girls and I liked how it was a team sport and I just loved it,” Rumpel said in 2018. “A club coach found me during the school season and asked me to come play. I went to play for them and then I just fell in love with it.”
Rumpel quickly carved out her place in Athens Academy history as her high school career progressed.
“Ali has been a tremendous leader for us on the court all season,” Lady Spartans head coach Jane Thomas said. “She was an all-state selection, region player of the year and MVP of the region tournament for the second year in a row. She is a dual threat in that she is equally impressive on offense and defense.”
The Athens Academy star’s individual accolades were hard-earned.
Rumpel consistently ranked among the Lady Spartans’ statistical leaders.
During the 2020 season, during which she was Athens Academy’s only senior player, Rumpel recorded 209 kills, 57 solo blocks, 61 total blocks and 46 aces. She finished her final season with a .496 hitting percentage.
Those numbers simply piled onto Rumpel’s career totals.
Throughout her time with the Lady Spartans, Rumpel totaled 716 kills, 168 solo blocks, 172 total blocks, 144 aces and a .514 hitting percentage.
She helped the team to great success overall, too.
Rumpel transferred to Athens Academy from Starr’s Mill in time for her sophomore season. That year, the 2018 season, the Lady Spartans went 30-8 and reached the fourth round of the state playoffs.
In 2019, the team finished 38-6. It reached the fourth round again.
The Lady Spartans went 38-3 in 2020 and advanced to the state semifinal round of the playoffs, finishing one win away from the state title match.
Thomas said the success from the last few years would not have been possible without Rumpel contributing to the team and helping power its success on the court.
“Ali has a true competitive spirit and had an incredible high school career,” Thomas said. “She will be a great collegiate volleyball player at Hawai’i Pacific.”
