By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

CEDAR BLUFF – Not so long ago, Cedar Bluff volleyball outside hitter Lacie Roer watched the older Lady Tigers’ success on the court. She dreamed one day she’d be as good as them.

Now it’s Roer who’s cast a shadow and left footsteps for future Lady Tigers to follow.

Roer signed a scholarship with Gadsden State Community College on Wednesday.

Last season, Roer posted 153 kills, 38 aces, 18 digs and 13 blocks in helping Cedar Bluff (15-21) reach the Class 1A North Super Regional in Huntsville. For her career, Roer accumulated 405 kills, 62 blocks, 47 aces and 42 digs.

“I’m so excited,” Roer said of signing with Gadsden State. “I love that it’s a community college since I’m coming from a small school.”

Even though Cedar Bluff volleyball coach Deidra Cox had just one year with Roer, she called Roer “a leader on and off the court.”

“She’s one of those players you wish you could get in seventh grade and coach her all the way through,” Cox said. “She has such good character on and off the floor. She’s somebody you want out there. She has great leadership qualities. She’s a hard worker. She does what you ask plus more. She’s just real dedicated.”

Cox recalled meeting Roer for the first time during summer workouts last year and came away impressed.

“She was leading by example,” Cox said. “She was a vocal leader out there. She wants success for everybody. She’s such a team player. She’s going to do her part and she’s going to get the team doing their part too.”

“That’s just who I am,” Roer said. “I love being a leader.”

The early impression Roer made on Cox carried on throughout last season. Cox said Roer “played a huge role in everything we did,” especially when Cox decided to make a change with Roer playing on the back row.

“It was a good change,” Roer admitted. “She really pushed us every single day. We were in shape. We were ready. We went into games thinking we were going to win. She changed our mindsets and it was good for everybody.”

“I asked her to do things that were a little out of her comfort zone, but I thought she stepped up and handled the pressure, handled everything great,” Cox said. “She’s such a great athlete. She’s not going to let anything slow her down. She’s going to keep at it until she gets it. Maybe passing back row wasn’t something she had done a whole lot before, but she went back there and did it for us. At first, you could tell she was out of her comfort zone, but day in and day out she worked to get better at it and she did.

“There were games she just came out and did above and beyond what was needed for her team to win, and that’s something you love having as a coach.”

Roer is the second volleyball player in Cherokee County within the past week to sign with the Lady Cardinals. Sand Rock setter Rylin St.Clair signed with Gadsden State last Wednesday.

“I played with a couple of girls on travel teams, and we’re close on social media,” Roer said. “(Rylin and I have) been playing against each other for so long. We’ve been on club (volleyball) together in the past and we’re friends. I’m excited (to be teammates now).”

Even though she’s excited to be a future Cardinal, it’s a bittersweet feeling for Roer to be leaving Cedar Bluff.

“I’m kind of nervous,” Roer said. “I couldn’t be anywhere without my parents and my teammates, and I’m so thankful for all my coaches. I love my team because they push me to be the best I can every day. I’ve been playing with all these girls since seventh grade, but I think I’ll be fine.”

Cox believes Roer will do fine with the Lady Cardinals as well.

“I know she’s going to go to Gadsden State and bust her tail day in and day out,” Cox said. “She’ll do great things.”