When did you start playing? I first started playing volleyball my 6th grade year after one of my closest friends could not stop talking to me about her club team and about her developing skills.
What do coaches and teammates count on you for? I would say that my coaches and teammates rely on me most for my consistency; skill wise and emotionally. As a setter it’s my job to deliver hittable balls regardless of the circumstances of the game. The team could be up 10 or down 10 but maintaining the same quality of sets is a responsibility of mine that never changes. While the game moves unpredictably and quickly emotions and tensions are constantly changing uncontrollably but as previously stated my coaches and team yes can always expect me to maintain both my composure and my competitive edge. Being able to regulate my emotions in high pressure scenarios has not only allowed me to remain consistent when running an efficient offense but has also ensured that both coaches and teammates can expect a calming, steady, and unwavering presence every time i touch the court.
What kind of environment helps you thrive? A high pressure scenario is where i personally feel as though i thrive in. With the game on the line, i know i want to be the one fighting for the team from the service time or receiving a swing down the line. My experiences with difficult and/or uncomfortable environments throughout sports has instilled in me both a heavy sense of fearlessness and a genuine desire to rise to the occasion. Where some may falter under the pressure I feel as though pressure gives me something to prove and a chance to preform to my highest capabilities.
What are your goals? Athletically my goals include further developing my skills as a defensive specialist/libero while maintaining my setter position, winning a state championship with my school team, and eventually playing at the highest and most competitive collegiate level possible for myself. Academically my goals consist of graduating with a 4.5+ GPA, continuing my unbroken streak of honor rolls based off of honors and AP classes, and one day attending a college that will support both my interests in contract law and sports and entertainment management. Personally I’ve had one underlying goal for my life that can be found at the root of all of my aspirations; that being to be successful. There are so many different ways that success can look for me so i refuse to limit myself to one version of it, but that intense desire for success is what motivates me everyday to accomplish both the little and big goals that will get me there.
What are your interests? At the moment film, literature, music and history are four of my biggest interests. Not to mention my passion for volleyball and my love for fitness. Talking about my love for volleyball is something i could genuinely do for hours and i feel so lucky that at a young age i was able to find and fall in love with this sport that has given me so much purpose and has taught me so many lessons that i needed. I feel like as a person i can find interest in so many things and even if they don’t become permanent they leave an impact on me. For instance, when i was younger the piano fascinated me so i learned how to play and i loved it, as i grew older i found new hobbies and interests but the dedication that it took to learn that new skill is something that stayed with me as i continued to grow as a person.
What personality traits best describe you? Loyal, Confident, Empathetic, Dedicated, and Rational.
What is your family background? I’m only child that lives with both my mom and dad. We are extremely close as i am the only one however i have 3 cousins on my dads side who have grown up side by side with me and whom i see as siblings. My entire family including my extended family is beyond close with one another and i would describe my family as the definition of “ride or die” when it comes to us.
What should a coach understand about you beyond your stats? Beyond my statistics, any coach should understand that my work ethic and passion for the sport is what makes me the player that i am. I am constantly improving and have never let a statistic discourage me from my goals or from my growth. I want any coaches interested in me knowing that a statistic that they see now is the culmination of so much hard work and so much love for the sport and that those two thing things will never run out for me so the statistics will always continue to improve.