Senior Christian Luhnow signed her Letter of Intent to play collegiate volleyball for Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, during the NCAA National Signing Day on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Cheers and tears of joy filled the room as Luhnow’s family and members of the Archer community surrounded Luhnow amidst her signing.

J.D. Media covered the event and conducted an interview (shown below) with Luhnow, her parents, Kathy Heyler and Chris Luhnow, Head of School Elizabeth English, Athletics Director Denny Lennon, US Coordinator and Recruitment Director Kim Smith and Varsity Volleyball Head Coach Jonathan Lotz.

“This is just a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to play volleyball in college, and now it’s finally happening,” Luhnow said.

Upon visiting Lafayette College for the first time in her junior year, she knew that she wanted to be a part of the Cougar family.

“It’s so amazing that they want me – it’s unbelievable, it’s the greatest feeling ever. I love the girls on the volleyball team. Everyone is so great over there and has everything I’m looking for. It was just that gut feeling in me,” Luhnow said.

“She’s an example that hard work and perseverance can get you to your dream and Lafayette wasn’t a yes right away, but she didn’t let that keep her down,” Heyler said. “She kept pushing and here we are. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

During her role as Archer Varsity Volleyball’s Co-Captain for the 2015-2016 season, Luhnow was named Liberty League MVP, Brentwood Invitational All-Tournament MVP and Milken Dig Pink Tournament MVP.

“Athletics are incredibly important for girls. Girls who play sports in high school — we know they ascend to leadership,” English said.

Luhnow is the fifth student in Archer history to commit to play a collegiate sport.

“I’ve seen Christian and many of her friends use sports to motivate them to do better across the board whether it’s academics or socially, you know, in other endeavors,” Chris Luhnow said.

“For us, always, it’s the type of human being you leave here as and I’m just incredibly proud that Christian’s going to go to Lafayette and they’re going to say, ‘Wow those Archer girls are not only fierce but they’re fundamentally kind, decent and grateful people,'” English said.