NORTH’S LIZZIE BINDER will play volleyball at Cal State Bakersfield. – Submitted Photo

One of the best days of Lizzie Binder’s life was followed by one of the unlikeliest.

The Sheboygan North senior made up her mind to play volleyball at Cal State Bakersfield on Aug. 14. Four days later, she found out her high school season was moving from fall to spring.

“I knew coming into this year there was going to be a lot of unknowns and things that were going to happen really sporadically, so it honestly didn’t surprise me,” Binder said. “If anything, I’m hoping things get better so we can have somewhat of a normal season. Even if it’s postponed like it is, I hope that things can get back to normal. I rather have an normal season than a messed up, crazy one, early.”

Binder is the reigning co-player of the year in the Fox River Classic Conference and is the school’s all-time leader in kills.

She visited Bakersfield on Aug. 12 and says she was excited but also relieved, especially in these times, because she was unsure if new recruiting rules would be put in to place amid the pandemic.

“I was beyond happy, beyond excited, to know where I’m going for the next four years,” Binder said.

She also was interested in UC-San Diego and Loyola Marymount, and knew going to college in California was her plan.

“I’ve been vacationing out there ever since I was like 4 years old,” Binder said. “I have family out there. Along the years of recruiting, which started in eighth grade, I visited tons of schools across the country. … I really got a gist of what I wanted. Visiting all the schools in California, it was clear to me that that’s where I could see myself going.”