HICKORY, N.C. — Having turned 18 years old in December with one year of volleyball experience at Catawba Valley Community College, Adair Melton is already heading on to the next level.

The freshman from Hickory, N.C. signed on Thursday to play volleyball at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C. starting this fall.

"It's really surreal," Melton said of signing. "I never thought I'd go on to college to play volleyball. I never thought I'd get to this point. It's really exciting. I'm thankful for my family for being here and for my coaches."

This past season for the Red Hawks, Melton tallied a team-best 289 kills (2.31 per set) and a .238 hitting percentage to go with 243 digs, 191 assists, 68 total blocks, 15 service aces and a team-high 340.5 points.

For her performance, the former Foard High School standout was named Best All-Around during the Red Hawks' year-end awards banquet last week.

"Adair is the kind of player that coaches love," said CVCC head volleyball coach Shannon Hudson. "She is the ultimate package of energy and positivity mixed with an extremely competitive spirit — not to mention that she contributed this year as a setter and outside hitter. We are definitely going to miss her on the court this fall, but I know she's going to do great things at Meredith."

Melton said playing volleyball at CVCC has helped her grow athletically, and it is something she won't ever forget.

"I could not ask for better coaches," Melton said. "This has been the best opportunity to ever come my way. I would not be here without them. I wouldn't have been able to get this to place and have this opportunity to go on to a four-year to play. They've just been so supportive and very encouraging. I'm going to miss them more than anything else in the world. I just hope they are proud of me. I'm very thankful for them."

Having originally signed with Catawba Valley on May 25, 2017, Melton believes playing one year for the Red Hawks has helped set her up for a successful transition to Meredith.

"It's a little intimidating to know that I'm going to go in as a junior at Meredith as an 18 year old, but I'm really proud of myself for pushing myself to get here," Melton said. "At a young age, going in as a junior will give me a lot of opportunities. Volleyball wise, I think it gives me a little bit of an advantage going to a junior college to kind of find my way on the volleyball court."

Melton is the third member of the 2017 Red Hawks volleyball roster to sign to play a four-year school, joining outside hitter Hailey Tatu (Greensboro College) and defensively specialist Kara Williams (Montreat College). CVCC middle hitter Sabrina Pinard has also committed to play at UNC Asheville.