Jenny Heppert had plenty of choices when it was time to pick a college.

Heppert, a middle blocker on Free State High’s volleyball team, visited Yale, Penn, Saint Louis, Missouri-Kansas City and Central Florida last spring. Heppert made good on an oral commitment she made in June when she signed a national letter of intent Monday with UCF.

Free State senior Jenny Heppert, right, gets a hug from Jamie Stanclift after Heppert signed her letter of intent to play volleyball for Central Florida. Heppert signed the letter on Monday at FSHS.

“It was at the top of a list of good schools,” said Heppert, a 5-foot-11 senior who was a first-team All-Sunflower League and all-state-tournament selection.

The academic reputations of Yale and Penn appealed to Heppert, who carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, but Ivy League schools don’t offer athletic scholarships. Heppert will have a full ride in Orlando.

“The academics are great,” she said of Central Florida. “I like the education program there, and all the people I met were great.”

That included volleyball coach Meg Colado, whose team was 23-7 in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time. The Golden Knights were unbeaten champions in the Atlantic Sun League, and UCF owns an 89-10 record all-time in that conference.

The Knights returned four starters this season, but they were 8-14 overall and 5-5 in the league heading into this weekend’s conference tournament. UCF will move from the league it traditionally has dominated to Conference USA next year.

“That will be exciting and a big step up,” Heppert said. “I’m excited to be part of it.”

UCF coaches spotted Heppert in February during a Junior Olympic tournament in Las Vegas. She made an unofficial campus visit in the spring and will make her official visit the weekend after Thanksgiving.

6Sports video: Free State volleyballer signs with Central Florida 6Sports video: FSH standout volleyball player finds UCF to be dream school

“It’s nice to have the decision made,” said Heppert, who tied teammate Katelin Karlin for the Sunflower League lead with 194 blocks. “It makes you feel so much more comfortable. I just need to get better. I think Central Florida is the place I can do that.”

Free State coach Nancy Hopkins said Heppert didn’t need to improve much.

“She’s a real strong all-around player,” said Hopkins, whose team finished 28-14. “She blocks well and hits well. She’s ready for that level. She’s probably as good as anybody I’ve had in that position.”

FSHS seniors Karlin and Megan Wyatt also were pondering Division One scholarship offers, but hadn’t reached decisions yet, Hopkins said.