Sydnei Jones Becoming Second Generation Howard University Athlete

For all of her life, Sydnei Jones has loved and supported Howard University. From the outside looking in, people likely would not be able to understand what her connection has been to the school. However, this is because both of her parents were scholarship athletes for the Bison.

(Photos provided by Sydnei Jones)

It’s a school she’s rooted for and supported since as early as she can remember, with some of her earliest memories of the school being her asking for a Howard University backpack at just the age of five. So, why does this exactly matter anyways? It matters because Jones is set to become a second generation collegiate athlete at Howard, something that she is excited about.

“I’ve always wanted to go to school and live in a big city and Washington D.C. is a perfect place for me to live that dream,” said the high school junior. “I was ecstatic when Howard made the offer this past August! There are more than 20 people in my family that have graduated from The Howard University and I am more than proud to continue the legacy.”

With over 100 schools recruiting her, it certainly made the decision a little bit more difficult. However, part of the reason she decided on Howard was not just the family ties, but also the distinction the school has as being a Historically Black College/University (HBCU).

“Our community takes great pride in attending HBCUs. Like my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, I am proud to have this opportunity to take my talents to an HBCU. I dream of wearing Howard on my back and bringing the first National Championship home.”

Certainly, bringing a national title back to Howard is a huge goal, but it is not something to put past Jones after taking a look at the resume she has built in volleyball over her first two and a half years of high school volleyball.

Looking back to her freshman year at South Fayette, she became a varsity starter in her first high school season. Certainly, this is an accomplishment in itself, but it was not something she was content with by any means. Her freshman year concluded with her team going undefeated in sectional play and winning the sectional championship. It was a great start to her high school career, but much more was in store.

As a sophomore, she became the starting setter for North Catholic, while helping the team go undefeated in sectional play,, win a sectional title, go undefeated in the WPIAL, take third in the state with an 18-1 record, become a Butler Eagle News Honor Roll selection, a First-Team All-Section selection, a First-Team All-WPIAL player, and a First-Team All-State setter. On the travel circuit, she also became an All-League setter in the North Coast Power League. Another solid season for the Bridgeville native, but her junior season would be her best yet.

After a disappointing finish in her mind as a sophomore, Jones became the starting setter for a PIAA championship team that was out for redemption in 2021. Her season overall wrapped up with another undefeated year in the section and a section title, another undefeated season in conference with a WPIAL title, being named the MVP of the WPIAL Championship match, being named a WPIAL and Pittsburgh Post Gazette Athlete of the Week during the season, being named to the Butler Eagle News Honor Roll for the second straight season, being named the Butler Eagle News Player of the Year, being tabbed First-Team All-Section, All-WPIAL, and All-State for the second straight season, being named the MVP of the PIAA semi-final matchup, winning a state championship, and also being tabbed as a AVCA Phenom Watchlist player.

Crazy enough, she still has all of club volleyball left for her junior season in addition to the entirety of her senior season for the Lady Trojans. Even crazier is volleyball was not always her number one sport as she was a standout on the soccer field before making the tough choice between the two fall sports.

As a freshman soccer player back in 2019, Jones scored 18 goals in 17 games for her club team Beadling Soccer Club who played in the National League Soccer category, was the leading scorer in the entire National League, and was a selection to the id2 USA National Identification and Development Program. Certainly, playing soccer and volleyball in the same season is incredibly taxing, so it was a wise choice for Jones to pick one sport for her future.

Along the way, her grades have also been important to her as she has been on the Honor Roll or High Honor Roll in every quarter of her high school career. It’s grades like this that will one day help her achieve a dream of becoming an attorney who focuses on studying languages. She intends to be a part of the international exchange and hopes to learn Spanish, French, and Italian before she graduates college.

Looking back on all she has accomplished to date, her favorite memories are becoming All-WPIAL and All-State, being selected to the US National Training camp for soccer, winning a state title, and avenging a loss to Philipsburg-Osceola in the 2021 state playoffs after the Lady Mounties knocked the Lady Trojans out of state champion contention in 2020.

Two other interesting facts about Jones include her brother, Blainey, is one of the top men’s volleyball recruits in the nation and is committed to Penn State and her little sister, Madisyn is currently a freshman volleyball player in high school.

Congratulations on achieving a dream of being able to continue your career at Howard University, Sydnei! Best of luck to you as you continue your studies and playing the game of volleyball 🏐⚽️️👩🏽‍💼