We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Kendall Hubbard.

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No matter what happens on the court this season, Kendall Hubbard’s freshman campaign at Mount Notre Dame promises to be memorable. Hubbard recently found out she made the varsity cut. That alone is reason to celebrate, but there’s much more to it than that. Not only will she be playing in the most competitive conference in the state of Ohio, she’ll be doing so with her older sister, Bailey, on the roster.

“It’s really exciting to go to the same school,” Hubbard said. “My older sister is going to be a senior. I did go to her varsity games. I loved the environment at every game with the student section.”

Even with Hubbard’s success during this past club season – one she spent playing for Elevation 14 Molly – she wasn’t sure where she stood when it came to making the varsity roster or not. In fact, Hubbard just found out the day before she spoke with us that she indeed was selected to be on the varsity squad.

“I was nervous at first,” she said. “I’m super excited to learn from the upperclassmen. The history there is so big. I’m excited to get to represent my school.”

Hubbard grew up playing lots of sports. She said she tried her hand at seven sports – including gymnastics, basketball and tennis – before getting into volleyball. Her mom is a volleyball coach, so playing the sport seemed like only a matter of time.

“With all my different experiences, I really liked how the feel for volleyball was different with the energy and chemistry,” she said. “Plus, it ran through my family.”

Growing up in a sports family brought out Hubbard’s competitiveness early on. Being an athlete her whole life she said it’s definitely part of her personality of who she is.

“I’ve always been competitive,” she said. “I have a winning mindset. I always say I hate losing more than I love winning.”

While Hubbard has stopped playing AAU basketball she still plans on playing the sport for high school. As for volleyball, Hubbard said she’s always prided herself on being more of an all-around player and hopes to bring that versatility to Mount Notre Dame. She started off early during her 10s and 11s season only setting. She then played middle blocker for her 12s year before starting to hit and set as she did this past season with Elevation.

“I do like them both,” she said. “I like the adrenaline of both positions. Setting is a lot of leadership and it’s a big responsibility to lead the team. I like hitting too. Hitting is more exciting and a more of a cheerful type of experience.”

In her role as a two-way player, Hubbard was one of the mainstays on the court this past season for Elevation. The Cincinnati-based club finished tied for 13th in 14 Open at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships in Chicago this summer.

“One of my favorite tournaments was MEQ,” Hubbard said. “It was really special to me because that’s how we qualified for nationals. We took third this year. Nationals was also an amazing experience. Chicago was a different environment compared to all the others and it was great as a team to get to represent our club.”

As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Hubbard about volleyball and more.

Who is a role model or someone you look up to?

Hubbard: For me, growing up in Cincinnati, I’ve always watched UC (University of Cincinnati). Jordan Thompson was a huge role model for me. She was on the Olympic team which won the gold medal and she’s always been a huge role model. One time I went to a UC game when she was there and she was having a meet and greet and I got to meet her. I loved how unique it was. It was an amazing experience getting to talk to an Olympian.

What is your favorite food?

Hubbard: Mine is buffalo chicken dip. I would say it’s my go-to for chips or tortillas.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why?

Hubbard: I would say going to a different country or different continent to explore the different culture and community compared to the US. I would say Europe. Why not?

Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without?

Hubbard: I don’t really know. Maybe my volleyball blanket? On my 13s team the very first tournament I sprained my ankle and my teammate’s grandma bought it for me as a gift. I’ve brought it to every single tournament since.

What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile?

Hubbard: I would say just coming home from a long productive day of hanging out with my teammates and just coming home from that.

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

Hubbard: I would say either teleportation or telekinesis. Teleportation would be really cool to go wherever you want in an instance. Telekinesis would be pretty cool to be able to move stuff with your mind.

Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why?

Hubbard: I would say my academic level and my grades. It’s really important to me.

What is one thing that may surprise people about you?

Hubbard: That I love art. One of my hobbies is to paint and draw when I’m bored. I started in seventh grade taking an art class as a little joke but I ended up getting the Superintendent award for one of my drawings and it made me start enjoying art more.

What is your strangest irrational fear?

Hubbard: I hate spiders. Or I don’t like the fact that we have only explored three percent of the ocean and any mysterious thing could be out there.

What’s your favorite number and why?

Hubbard: It’s No. 2 because it’s always been my number for volleyball and basketball. My whole life I’ve loved even numbers. I picked that number when I was 9.