I believe the skill that makes me stand out most on the court, along with the typical aspects of being a setter and my defense, is my ability to support my teammates in all aspects of the game. Whether they are playing their best or having an off day, I feel like it’s my job to convince them that they deserve to be on the court and that I fully trust them. Especially with my hitters, I work hard to build a connection with them so they know I trust them enough to deliver them the ball even when the stakes are high. My ability to instill confidence in my teammates comes from countless hours of extra reps and learning to look to each other for support during tough times rather than resorting to anger. By building these connections, we are able to work as a united team to reach our common goal of succeeding.

When I was first featured on PrepDig, I felt a sense of accomplishment that my hard work was finally getting noticed. All the countless hours spent working with coaches and teammates one-on-one were already showing through in my play, but it’s motivating to know that it also wasn’t being overlooked on a wider scale. PrepDig provides a platform for athletes like me to get attention from not only local coaches and other athletes, but also coaches across the country, which is crucial in finding a school that best fits all aspects of what I’m looking for.

I want college coaches to know that as much as I value consistency and leadership in volleyball, I also value those traits and hard work in every area of my life. School has always been my top priority, and I often valued it as a visual scale of my success, but volleyball has taught me that that’s not always the case. Through playing volleyball and being on a team, I have learned that although success is the ultimate goal, not succeeding doesn’t necessarily mean you failed, but rather that you haven’t reached the end of the path yet. Success will come, but sometimes failure is what allows you to get there, and some of the lessons I’ve learned from failing are the most profound ones I value in my life. Now, instead of viewing school solely on a numerical scale, I value the lessons I learn that I will continue to use throughout my life.