When Ashley Hadley came to Natchitoches in spring 2003 for her volleyball recruiting visit, she and the rest of Northwestern State's Athletic Department were in for a surprise.
Another Ashley Hadley already was at Northwestern as a Demon soccer player. Same name, same spelling, sure confusion.
"It is so strange to have someone with my same name," said the Hadley who is a senior volleyball star. "Hadley is not a very common name and to meet someone with the same name and who is also an athlete is weird."
For two girls who grew up in different environments, their overall lifestyles seem to be reflections of one another.
Ashley Nicole Hadley, the senior volleyball star, was born July 15, 1983 to Dick and Laurie. She has three sisters and grew up in Santa Fe, Texas.
Ashley Rose Hadley, the junior soccer standout who just won first-team All-Southland Conference honors last week, was born March 9, 1984 to Richard and Angela. She has one brother and is a native of Hamilton, Ohio.
Both put academics at the top of the priority list. The volleyball star has already earned an Associate's Degree in Science and is pursuing business marketing while at NSU. The soccer star, a junior history major, has been named to the NSU academic honor roll.
In fact, both made the Southland Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll last year, leading to a round of confusion at the conference office and elsewhere thinking the same name had been used mistakenly in two sports, instead of one -- or that there was a two-sport athlete at Northwestern named Ashley Hadley.
The soccer star credits her parents for her success in the classroom and on the field.
"My parents have always taught my brother and I that good grades equals playing sports," she said. "I choose to excel. It allows me to grow and gives my parents that much more of a reason to be proud."
Head soccer coach Jimmy Mitchell recruited Hadley and knew from the start academics were at the top of the list.
"Ashley is very academic," Mitchell said. "She was taught from an early age that education leads to success. Ashley uses that mantra on and off the field."
Volleyball head coach Leigh Mullins agrees with Mitchell when it comes to her Hadley and academics.
"Ashley has already proven herself in the academic world with her Associate's Degree," Mullins said. "The rest of the team sees the leadership she provides all while continuing to further her education."
Even though the girls have had their mix-ups, including having the same class and driving the same make of vehicle, when it comes to their respective sports, there is no confusion.
The volleyball star transferred from North Central Texas Community College where she earned all-conference and all-region honors as a sophomore. Since arriving at NSU, Hadley has been a team player earning a place on this year's Louisiana-Lafayette All-Tournament team. Last season, she had a career high 18 digs in a 2003 match against Southeastern Louisiana. Despite battling painful back problems recently, forcing her to miss more than two weeks of action, she has been a key weapon on the back line for the Demons, who cap their regular season with three home matches this week.
The soccer star has shone bright in her own light. Hadley, a defender, has scored two goals down the stretch as the Demons won seven of their last nine games to charge into the SLC Tournament, where they were eliminated last Friday in the semifinals.
"I was originally recruited as a striker," Hadley said. "I love helping my team win on the defensive side but it has been rewarding scoring twice, especially when I hear my team's support."
Even though neither would be considered the individual standout of her team, the Hadley's teamwork has brought new dimensions to their squads. Volleyball made history this season by recording a five-game win streak versus the SLC and soccer made its third straight SLC Tournament appearance and posted its sixth winning record in seven seasons.
"It is great to be part of a trail-blazing team," the volleyball star said. "We knew if we put our heart and minds into achieving wins, it would and could be done."
Both girls are nearing the end of their collegiate athletic career and have turned their attention to their future. The volleyball star would like to pursue sports marketing and possibly graduate school whereas the soccer star is looking forward to law school and a future career in international law.
Both coaches know that success will be a part of their Hadley's forever.
"Ashley will continue her education until there are no more resources," Mullins said. "She has a bright future in any career she chooses."
"Ashley will pursue her one and only dream, law," Mitchell said. "Any law school would be privileged to have her. She will be an excellent lawyer and an asset to the future."
For now, both Ashley Hadley's will continue doing what they know best: being a team player. You never know when the real Ashley Hadley will need to step up -- but their coaches and teammates know they will, and when that happens, they know which Ashley it is
