By TAFT COGHILL JR.

Kira and Kori Ford are about to take sibling rivalry to another level.

Kira, a Chancellor High School senior and the younger of the two sisters, has committed to play volleyball at West Virginia State University.

She accepted a partial scholarship from the school this week.

Kori is already a freshman at Shepherd (W.Va.) University. Both schools are in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and will play each other on Sept. 23. They could also possibly meet in the conference tournament.

The sisters' parents, Gary and Carla Ford, said they'll be split when the teams play.

"I guess I'll sit on one side and my wife will sit on the other side," Gary Ford said.

Kira said she chose West Virginia State because she wanted to play against her sister.

Growing up, they were always on the same team. Kori was The Free Lance-Star Player of the Year for Chancellor in 2004 and Kori took the same honor this past season.

Chancellor coach Rod Crooks lauds Kira for her power hitting style. He said the Yellow Jackets offered her a scholarship even though she was injured during her tryout with the team.

West Virginia State was 24-14 this past season, including 14-3 in the WVIAC.

"I personally think they don't totally understand what they have yet," Crooks said. "They didn't see the full impact Kira will have for them, but they were confident enough to go ahead with their offer. She's a diamond in the rough that they'll find out about soon enough."

Kira said her sister seemed uncomfortable with the idea of them playing together in college, so she decided to become Kori's rival.

She talked with Kori about the possibility of them playing together, but didn't like how the conversation went.

"Once she moved out and went to Shepherd, she really wanted to be independent," Kira said of her sister. "We figured it wouldn't be the best of ideas [to go to the same school]."

Gary and Carla Ford said they're glad to be able to see both girls play at the same time.

"I probably won't root for either one," Carla Ford said. "I'll just go watch them play and hope nobody cries."

The eighth Caroline Invitational track and field meet will be held on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m.