COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: CANDOR'S KAREEM SIGNS WITH THE COLLEGE OF SAINT ROSE (2020-02-02)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — Candor volleyball standout Jennah Kareem will continue her career at The College of Saint Rose. The outside hitter / middle hitter signed her National Letter of Intent here Friday.

Kareem had looked at SUNY Geneseo, but in the end would pick a school which is located in an area of the state that she is somewhat familiar with.

"I was having trouble with Geneseo because it is such a hard school to get into, so we waited a little bit before I couldn't commit to Geneseo and I happened to get an email from the coach from Saint Rose," Kareem said.

"I was born and kind of raised in Albany so I've known the area and I was like I might as well go check it out. I went and saw it and loved the campus, and the coach was really nice.

"I like the small campuses. I like that I can walk around; and it's open. It's right on one block, so I can go anywhere. I like to be in small communities. It reminds me of home."

The Golden Knights are a NCAA Division II program which competes in the 14-team Northeast-10 Conference.

"I've always told myself if I want to go far, I really want to go D-2, so that kind of pushed me and then I got an academic scholarship and an athletic scholarship," she said.

Candor head coach Pam Quinlan is a Saint Rose alum, but didn't influence the decision, Kareem said.

"She didn't push me. She loves it there. I think it's pretty awesome to have a coach that went to Saint Rose, so I thought it's a great opportunity."

This past fall, Saint Rose posted an 11-17 record and went 4-9 in the NE-10. The Knights will graduate just three seniors, so where Kareem will fit in during her freshman season is yet to be determined.

"A starter would be awesome. I'd love to be a starter," she said. "My expectations are to become a better volleyball player, become a better teammate, and just go as far as I can."

Kareem takes an impressive athletic resume to Saint Rose. She was named to the New York Volleyball Coaches Association all-state Class D first team this past season and was a fourth-team pick in 2018 (she was also a New York State Sportswriters and Coaches of Girls Sports Class C softball fifth-team selection last spring). She's also been chosen an IAC South Small School first-team volleyball all-star the past two years.

In four seasons on the Candor varsity, Kareem registered 460 kills, 323 points, 281 digs, 101 aces, 42 blocks and 32 assists. She led the Indians in kills and digs in 2019 (203 kills, 108 digs) and 2018 (160 kills, 95 digs).

She played a key role in the team's march to a Class D state championship, the IAC Small School and IAC Small School South titles and a 22-0 record. She departs with the Indians riding a 37-match regular season win streak.

Kareem is leaning toward pursuing a career in criminal justice, although she had considered a business degree and education.

"With business, I like the fact that there are so many opportunities, and you can work from home, so having a family would be easy," she said. "I think with criminal justice I like the whole aspect of it, figuring out crime and going and doing hands-on stuff."

Kareem feels blessed to have been a part of the Candor community and the school district.

"I love it here. The community is so tight-knit. Everybody's got your back. You're growing up with these people. They're always there for you. Yeah, it's high school, there's drama, but you get past it."

Saint Rose is about two hours and 40 minutes away, so there should be opportunities to remain in close contact with the people back home.

—————— IN PHOTO 1: Candor's Jennah Kareem and her mother, Erin Foster. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.