Wingate University Athletics

2014-15: Alexa Branch utilized a redshirt season ...

Prior to Wingate: Branch was a four-time All-Yadkin Valley Conference (YVC) and All-Stanly County selection for head coach Eric Davis at Albemarle High. She was the YVC Player of the Year as a sophomore and the YVC Athlete of the Year as a junior. Branch was the N.C. Preps state 1A Player of the Year following her senior campaign.  
 
Branch’s senior year statistics ledger included 23.6 points per game, 16.7 rebounds per game and 5.2 blocks per game. She scored a career-high 44 points in her final high school contest, a state play-off game versus Mount Airy. Branch’s career numbers included 19.8 points per game, 14.5 rebounds per game and 3.2 blocks per game.
 
Branch was named All-District and N.C. Preps All-State as a junior. She joined Albemarle’s 1000-point club the same season, leading the Bulldogs in scoring (18.3 points per game), rebounding (13.5 rebounds per game) and blocked shots (2.3 blocks per game). Branch helped Albemarle win back-to-back Yadkin Valley Conference tournament titles in 2012 and 2013. She was a two-year team captain in both basketball and volleyball.
 
A three-sport standout at Albemarle, Branch earned multiple letters in basketball, volleyball and track and field. In volleyball, she holds Albemarle’s career kills record with 1411. The Bulldogs won the YVC volleyball tournament championship three times during her career. Branch was a three-time All-YVC and All-Stanly County selection in volleyball for head coach Joanne McConlogue.
 
A sprinter and relay team member, Branch was named the YVC Track and Field Athlete of the Year following her junior season. She was a four-time All-YVC and All-Stanly County choice in track and field for head coach Courtney Hildreth.
 
The daughter of Steve and Kesha Branch, Akela Branch has two cousins with South Atlantic Conference roots: DJ Blackmon (basketball, Lenoir-Rhyne) and E.J. Branch (football, Catawba).