The smile that lit up volleyball courts last fall shone just a bit brighter Tuesday morning in Polk County’s auditorium.
Akeela Cunningham’s joy and jubilance became a trademark of Wolverine matches throughout the season. Also a staple for Polk County was her talent, her performance so good that she earned unanimous selection by Western Highlands Conference coaches as the league’s player of the year..
That blend of attitude and athleticism caught the eye of staff at Warren Wilson College, who offered Cunningham a spot in their program. Tuesday, the Polk County senior officially accepted that opportunity, marking that decision in a ceremony with family and friends.
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And smiling the entire time.
“I’m excited for the moment,” Cunningham said. “I just feel like it’s a moment where I finally feel like I have somewhere that I can go, where I know I have a home after high school.
“I’m glad I have somewhere to go and a place to call home, especially where I can play my favorite sport.”
Cunningham has long been a multi-sport athlete, but it’s on the volleyball court where her star has shined brightest. She finished last season with a team-leading 393 kills, sixth-highest among all 3A players in North Carolina, and 440 digs, eighth-best among all state 3A players.
Her ability to excel in both front and back rows echoed what former Polk standout Sophia Overholt did two years ago in her senior season, that leading to a chance to continue her career as a libero at USC Upstate. Polk County head coach Molly Hill thinks Cunningham could follow a similar path at the college level.
“I feel like she’s an amazing back row player with how fast she is and how she’s just never afraid to go after a ball,” Hill said. “But on top of that, she brings this aspect to the front row where she can jump out of the gym. You look at her and you think, she’s not that tall, maybe she won’t be this huge hitter. But teams that we played this year, they were like, ‘oh my gosh, that girl can jump’.
“She can hang with the best of them. She’s not afraid of a big block. She’s just so competitive that I think no matter where they put her, she’ll do great.”
Warren Wilson coaches first approached Cunningham early in the 2025 season, and she immediately felt a connection with the staff. Seeing the campus in Swannanoa made her certain that’s where she wanted to continue her athletic and academic careers.
“I just felt this really welcoming and inviting sense, and I just knew,” Cunningham said of her first meeting with the staff. “I love the campus. It’s not as industrial and modern as other campuses. It’s in the wilderness, a lot of trees. You don’t feel like you have to be this person you’re not.”
Athletic Director Michelle Fagan spoke at Tuesday’s ceremony about the type of person that Cunningham is, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone on Polk County’s campus who doesn’t love the effervescent senior. It’s another of her qualities that Hill thinks will make Cunningham a key part of the Owls’ roster.
“I told the coach when she was going through the recruiting process that she’s just a really good teammate,” Hill said. “She’s going to hold everyone accountable and hold herself accountable, but at the same time, she’s someone that’s always going to put a smile on your face.
“Especially in those tough moments, in intense matches, that’s really what you need. I feel like she doesn’t get down on herself, she doesn’t ever get frustrated. She just wants to win, and she wants to have fun while she’s doing it. I think it’s a great fit for her, and I’m excited to see what she can do.”
Cunningham, who plans to major in animal science and hopes to work with animals following graduation, more than shared that excitement, as her smile showed.
“I feel tickled pink. I feel really tickled pink. I’m really excited,” she said.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported me throughout my high school years, playing volleyball and everything I’ve done. I owe it all to my family and my friends for this morning.”
