The Torch Passes: Premier Academy’s First Second-Generation Collegiate Commitment

Maumee, OH — There is a specific kind of magic that happens in a volleyball gym. It’s in the squeak of sneakers on the hardwood, the rhythm of the warm-up lines, and the shared language of a perfect set.

For Cindy (Missler) Smith, those sounds were the soundtrack of her youth. As a member of the Class of 2000 at Start High School and a standout at Premier Academy, Cindy wasn't just playing a game; she was helping lay the bricks for a program that, at the time, was still finding its footing. She went on to become an NJCAA All-American at Owens Community College, leaving behind a legacy of All-City honors and coaches' awards.

But legacies aren't meant to sit on a shelf in the form of trophies. They are meant to be lived.

The Evolution of a Legacy

Fast forward two decades. The gym hasn't changed much, but Cindy’s vantage point has. Instead of being the one getting the block in the middle, she’s been in the stands, watching her son, Nolan Smith, find his own rhythm.

Cindy (Missler) Smith '00 & Nolan Smith '26

Nolan’s journey hasn't been a carbon copy of his mother’s, and that’s what makes it special. He stepped onto the court at Sylvania Northview High School to help build a boys' program from the ground up and then joined the Premier Academy program at the start of his junior year. In just three years, he transformed from a curious athlete into a cornerstone of the team.

When Nolan recently committed to play collegiate volleyball, it marked a quiet but massive milestone for our club. Out of the 379 athletes who have moved on from Premier to the college ranks, Nolan is the very first second-generation commitment.

Navigating the Curveballs

True stories rarely follow a perfect script. Nolan originally committed to Lourdes University, but when the school announced its closure, the path he had envisioned suddenly shifted.

In sports, as in life, you learn to adjust your feet when the set is out of system.

Nolan didn’t let the setback define him. This fall, he will take his talents to the University of Toledo to compete with the Men’s Club Volleyball team. He isn't just playing for himself; he’s carrying forward a passion that started with his mother in a Premier jersey over twenty years ago.

Why This Matters

At Premier, we talk a lot about "player development," but what we’re really talking about is people development.

Seeing Cindy and Nolan—mother and son, both collegiate-bound athletes—reminds us that volleyball is the thread that connects generations. It’s about the lessons learned in the huddle that stay with you long after you’ve hung up the jersey. It’s about a mother’s grit being mirrored in her son’s determination to keep playing, no matter the obstacles.

We’ve celebrated 379 commitments in our 31-year history. They are all important. But this one? This one feels like home.

Congratulations, Nolan. And thank you, Cindy, for starting a story that is still being written.