Dowagiac junior Annie Ennesser has made a verbal commitment to play volleyball at Kent State University beginning in the fall of 2016.

Ennesser, who helped lead the Chieftains to a 19-14 record last year, made her commitment after visiting the school located in Kent, Ohio April 28.

“I visited there on a Wednesday and made my verbal commitment on Friday (May 1),” Ennesser said. “I really like it there. It is really nice. I love the coaches, I love the team and I love the campus.”

Ennesser plans on majoring in business. She is undecided exactly what type of business she wants to major in, but Kent State has a college of business that “fits perfectly,” according to Ennesser.

The 6-foot-1 1/2 middle blocker, who led Dowagiac in both kills and blocks last season, is a three-year starter on the Chieftain varsity team. Her 50 kills at the River Valley tournament last fall was a season high.

She has increased her vertical jump to 10-feet since last season.

Ennesser received offers from Eastern Michigan, which she will face being in the Mid-American Conference, Grand Valley State University, Valparaiso University and West Virginia of the Big 12 among others.

“Everything kind of made it feel like home,” Ennesser said of her visit to Kent State. “It is almost five hours away and it will be kind of hard to be away from home, but I just have to suck it up and deal with it.”

Ennesser said that making her verbal commitment was like “a weight being lifted off my shoulders.”

She plays for the Kaepa Krush club volleyball team for former Edwardsburg coach Sarah Stefling.

She will be playing for her third head coach in four years when Dowagiac’s 2015 season gets under way in the fall.

Rachel Zeider, a former Niles standout and Kalamazoo Loy Norrix head coach, has been tabbed to replace Vince Strefling, who resigned following the 2014 season.