Playing with sister Riley led Parker Kwiatkowski to be one of 2019’s best
Parker Kwiatkowski know she may not be where she is today without her older sister, Riley. The future Wake Forest Demon Deacon setter has been one of the most highly recruited players in the Class of 2019, and her journey…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingParker Kwiatkowski know she may not be where she is today without her older sister, Riley.
The future Wake Forest Demon Deacon setter has been one of the most highly recruited players in the Class of 2019, and her journey to excelling at volleyball all started with her sister.
At the age of 7, Parker got her first experience with volleyball as she joined her sister Riley’s team and played against opponents that were much older than her.
“I loved playing with my sister, but I am not sure how much she enjoyed it. It was probably a little bit too much time with her little sister,” Parker said with a chuckle.
Because she was the youngest on the team, her smaller stature made her an easy option for a defensive specialist. Years and years of playing alongside Riley against older kids would give her training that she might not have gotten if she stayed in her own age group.
“I had to go out of my comfort zone a lot when I first started playing because I was up against older kids that were more developed and more outspoken than I was. It forced me to mature faster because I was competing against girls that were years ahead of me and I wanted to be able to play up to their level,” Parker, who competes for Michigan Volleyball Academy, said. “I didn’t want to use my age as an excuse. I think that really benefited me in the long run. I feel like I am more mature and more developed than I would be if I just stuck to my same age group.”
Once Riley went off to high school, Parker couldn’t quite join her yet. Kwiatkowski would stick with her own age group and find the position she excelled in.
“Once I started playing at my own age level, my coaches thought being a setter was the right place for me because I was very outgoing and vocal,” Kwiatkowski said. “I started training at setter when I was 13 and it just ended up being a perfect fit. I fell in love with the position and I still love playing it to this day.”
After developing at setter, Parker moved up to high school play at Forest Hills Northern. There, she was able to once again play with her sister, Riley. However, the sisterly bond was tested, as both played the same position. Northern saw the potential for Parker, who was now 6-1 and playing at a level beyond her age.
“It was tough, because I essentially took her spot at setter,” Parker said. “But, my sister has always been great and supportive and it was no different there. She would help me and coach me to get better. I’m sure it wasn’t always easy, but her support meant the world to me and I think it just made us even closer as sisters.”
Riley would still find ways to contribute and made her way to playing at Aurora University after she graduated. Last fall was Parker’s first season without having Riley around, but it gave her an opportunity to grow as an individual.
“Not having her around was tough, because I was so accustomed to having her there. It took some time to adjust, but I realized that it was a new challenge for me and could turn it into a positive,” Parker said. “It was good for me to have to be on my own and learn to be a little more independent. That will be important as I get older and keep playing.”
Parker has been recruited by a number of top Division 1 volleyball programs for years, but she made her commitment to play for Wake Forest following her graduation in 2019.
“I went to every kind of school there was from big to small and the thing about Wake Forest that drew me in was the family feeling that the team have,” Parker said. “I love coach Bill Ferguson. He made me feel very comfortable. I want to be able to grow more as a player in college because I want to play overseas eventually and I know that he can get me there. I know Wake Forest is a great academic institution as well and it was important for me to have that balance of a positive experience in volleyball and a great education.”
Before becoming a Demon Deacon, Kwiatkowski has her senior year with Forest Hills Northern this fall. The Huskies will be losing some senior leaders, but Kwiatkowski is confident the team can be a force at the end of the year.
“We have lost a lot of starters that have made a big impact on the team, so I think this next season will be about bringing a lot of new players together and trying to find our stride early in the year,” Kwiatkowski said. “Hopefully we will be a team that improves and gets stronger and have a chance to really over-achieve in the postseason. I think it can be a really good year.”