TIOGA THREE-SPORT STAR CHAMBERS NAMED TO SECTION IV HALL OF FAME (2020-03-31)
BY TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
VALLEY AREA - Julie Chambers would take her volleyball skills to Division I Binghamton University, but it was her talent as a three-sport athlete at Tioga which earned her a spot in the Section IV Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
"Upon receiving the news of induction into the Section IV Hall of Fame, I was immediately humbled - and went down an emotional, memory-filled, roller coaster," Chambers said. "From my eight years in gymnastics through senior year at Tioga, I am blessed with so many fond memories.
"Most important to me was thanking all the coaches and mentors I've had throughout my life that truly shaped me foundationally and are the real recipients of this honor.
"From the ground up, I owe so much of who I am and what I achieved in athletics and thus far in life to them. The experiences we have in the gym, and on the field - our interactions with coaches and administration on a daily basis, truly does make the biggest difference in who we become as individuals.
Volleyball was her top sport and she became a four-time IAC first-team all-star. A highly-talented setter, she would earn Class C third-team all-state recognition and lead the Tigers to the Section IV Class C championship in her senior season. Chambers recorded 1,180 assists, 798 points, 332 digs and 288 kills in her four years with the team and graduated as the program's single-season record holder for assists (391) and service points (251).
"She was one of those special players," Tioga volleyball coach Des Ford said. "We brought her up as an 8th-grader."
Chambers came up for the postseason, but could have have been moved up sooner. However, she was the leader on the undefeated JV team and the coach didn't want to take her away from that and possibly jeopardize what the JV team was doing.
Some of the varsity players recognized Chambers' potential as well. Ford recalls a couple of seniors approaching her and asking her to move Chambers up for the postseason.
"The kids realized it too," Ford said.
Chambers' impact on the team after being called up was immediate, as Ford noticed how she responded to her teammates.
"To watch her as an 8th-grader with her upperclassmen, she was a leader. She talked to them," Ford said. "She didn't start. I put her in later in the evening, but to watch how they worked with her. She encouraged them. She was positive.
"That's how she was through her volleyball career for me. She had a good group of classmates with her. I had Rachel Perry, Steph Ramsey, that group, and their little group just worked well and they got along, but she led them."
Tioga advanced to regionals in Chambers' senior season, bowing out in five sets, but the team she helped build would reach the final four the next season.
Chambers was also a key contributor for the Tigers' basketball team which advanced to the NYSPHSAA Class C quarterfinals and defense was her forte. That team would fall to unbeaten Cooperstown in overtime, 39-37, and finish the season ranked 14th in the state with a 16-7 record.
"She wasn't much of an offensive player, but she was a good athlete," Tioga girls basketball coach Joe Robinson said. "She was a good jumper, so it made her a good rebounder. It wasn't like she was real tall or anything. She was probably 5-7, 5-8 maybe, more of a defensive player and rebounder for the basketball team."
Her athletic abilities carried over to the softball field as well.
"Chambers was the leadoff hitter for four years," Tioga softball coach Jim Wood said. "She was natural righty, switched over to a lefty. I think she hit .390 for her career. She was a very, very hard worker. She played second base, centerfield and was a pitcher for a year. She was our pitcher the year we went to our first Section IV final back in 06. That was just something she picked up and worked on for a year.
One of the best slap hitters in Section IV, Chambers helped guide Tioga to an 18-4 record and a No. 9 state ranking in Class C during her senior season. A four-year starter, she would graduate ranked fourth all-time in stolen bases with 76. She also carried a .376 career batting average and was 17-6 as a pitcher.
"They worked very, very hard," Wood said of Chambers and her classmate, Jesse Robinson, who was also inducted into the Hall at the same time. "Both of those girls would do anything to beat you."
Chambers would move on to play volleyball at BU. Originally a defensive specialist, she moved to setter. As a junior, she started 27 matches for the Bearcats and was named America East Setter of the Week four times. Her 9.82 assists per set led the conference. In her sophomore season, BU won the AE championship and qualified for the NCAA tournament.
"She did what she had to do to help a team, and not a selfish person at all ... she was always supportive," Ford said. "There's one thing about Julie. She puts her mind to something, she will do the best she can do."
"The induction brunch itself was also an amazing experience; being able to spend time not only with my family, but coaches and administrators that we're able to join Jess Robinson and I for the celebration," Chambers added. "The fact that her and I got inducted together made the entire honor that much more exciting!"
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
