MORGAN COUNTY
The Morgan County volleyball team won its first state championship in program history last season, and current junior Haedyn Crumbley played a crucial role in the Spike Dogs run through the bracket.
Crumbley helped lead the team to three consecutive straight-set wins against Calvary Day, Thomasville, and Wesleyan, and she contributed to the Spike Dogs’ 3-1 win over Sandy Creek in the GHSA Class 3A state semifinal match.
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter also played a vital role in Morgan County’s five-set win over Oconee County in the state title match. She was named the team’s most valuable player (MVP) by coaches and players and told the Lake Oconee News that it was a dream come true to finish as top dogs.
“Being named the team MVP was just great. It’s really my coaches and teammates that build me up and have helped me become the person and player that I am,” Crumbley said. “The state championship was insane. I don’t know if I ever doubted it because our expectations were to win, but it was just a dream from when I was little, and it all felt crazy.”
In the build-up to that moment, Crumbley was a multi-sport athlete from her early days of middle school. Once she got to the high school level, Crumbley stopped playing basketball to pursue volleyball full-time.
Crumbley reminisced on a light-hearted story where she believes the love for the sport started.
“I don’t know if I would call this a pivotal moment in my career, but I remember at a tennis camp in fifth grade, they told all my friends to come back and try out for the middle school tennis team. And they told me I should try out for the middle school volleyball team.” Crumbley laughed. “Sixth grade was when I really started playing competitively for the middle school team, and that’s when you could say I started to love the sport.”
She’s turned her passion for the sport into dedication to get better, and the copious amount of hours spent practicing on the court has led to the development of her skills.
For the Spike Dogs last season, Crumbley led the team in kills, kills per set, and hitting percentage, making her a dangerous offensive player.
Crumbley recently took those talents to the A5 Volleyball Club based out of Roswell – one of the premier clubs in the state and one she emphasized she has always wanted to play for.
Crumbley acknowledged that the competition at A5 constantly makes her work for the results she wants to see.
“When I first started playing, A5 was the club that everyone wanted to go to, and now I’m just so excited because I finally get to play there,” Crumbley said. “The coaches and players that are there just build you up and make you so much better because of the competition. The atmosphere is great, so overall I think it’s worth the long drives every week.”
Her travel coach, Patrick Vandendriessche, noticed her abilities and acknowledged how effective she will continue to be on the offensive end.
“She’s got a huge arm swing, and she took a big step this past year in developing her offense IQ in terms of creating scoring opportunities in transition situations that your typical player may not have the awareness for,” Vandendriessche said. “She’s obviously very good defensively, not letting balls get past the back line, so this year I think her biggest step will be taken in transition when she can create offense without having to really even think about it.”
In order to make this opportunity work, Crumbley has to make the hour-and-a-half drive to the gym for practices three to four times a week.
Those long hours can be tough, but Crumbley embraces the grind. Her mother, Elisa Crumbley, also makes sacrifices so that her daughter can pursue her passion.
“She always wanted to play for them, so once we saw she was committed to the sport and getting better to continue her passion, we wanted to try and make it happen for her,” Crumbley’s mother said. “We went up about a year ago to let her try out, and once she made the club and was put on coach Pat’s team, my husband and i decided we would take turns making the long trip up there for her, and it’s been a great choice because she’s grown so much from experiences she wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
With the accumulation of elite club experience and a state championship run, Crumbley is poised to continue to elevate her game.
Unfortunately, Crumbley injured her leg shortly after the high school season and will need therapy before she is able to return. She will be unavailable for at least the first half of the Spike Dogs’ 2023 schedule and hopes to be back to full peak form by the end of the year.
In the meantime, Crumbley is contributing to the team in a variety of ways.
Goodwin has known Crumbley for multiple years and is aware of her leadership on the court. She acknowledged that Crumbley takes every aspect of the game seriously, but that it’s been nice to see her encouragement from the sidelines, as well.
“She’s so serious when she’s on the court with a killer instinct always wanting to get better, and now, she’s gotten the opportunity to let loose a little bit, and it’s fun to see the side of her that’s cracking jokes and getting cheers going,” Goodwin said. “She’s got a great attitude even though I know it kills her not being out there, but she will definitely go over to Quinn after a point and let her know where the team could attack and be better defensively. She’s been able to do very controlled practice work with us, but we aren’t pushing her, and she’s definitely a leader from the sidelines.”
Most athletes in her situation would have a difficult time dealing with it, but not Crumbley. Her mother has seen first-hand the mental fortitude Crumbley has carried the past couple of months and is proud of the way she carries herself.
“I know I’m her parent and may be biased, but when you go through adversity like an injury, it may be tough to deal with, but Haedyn has handled it extremely well and has been mentally tough though it all,” her mother said. “She hasn’t been dwelling on what she can’t do but focusing on what she can do. Until she’s able to play again, she wants to contribute to the [high school] team any way she can.
"Right now, that looks like helping at practice, being a leader from the sidelines and encouraging her teammates, being there for them in different ways.”
The Spike Dogs have won six of their last eight matches to start the 2023 season, and the potential return of Crumbley could give the team some serious momentum heading into the postseason.
Regardless, Crumbley has two more years of high school and wants to continue her volleyball career at the next level.
Crumbley’s love for the game has carried her this far, and her dedication shows there is more to be accomplished in her young career.