Emily Ibarra '23 Recruiting Profile

What I have envisioned for myself in college is graduating, getting a job, and making my parents proud. But it has also been a dream of mine to play in college and see how far I can take my volleyball career. Volleyball has been a sport that I love since I was 10 years old. Watching the older girls play made me want to play, although I had no clue about how the sport worked. Ever since I started playing it has become more than a hobby or a way to stay active, it has become a passion that I care about deeply. As my time in club and high school is coming to an end, I do not want it to be the end of my volleyball career. I want to push myself, see how far I can get. 

To truly push myself, over the last 6 years I have dedicated numerous hours to volleyball. Wether it is through private practices, doing a workout program with my club, or teaching young girls how to play. With it all I have been able to learn the game of volleyball. I have strengthened my mental and physical part of volleyball, and increased my volleyball IQ. Noticing another player staying deep and going short, seeing how far outside a set is and watching for angle, etc. And with coaching, I'm able to notice things and realize habits I may have, and try my best to correct them. 

What I have tried to bring to every team I have been on is a leader. By giving advice to teammates and calibrating with them,  being a source of energy, or leading by example. I've also been able to keep a strong GPA throughout high school. I have been given the honor of being awarded with the Carli E. Cruz award at my school, which is given to a junior who show strong leadership on and off the court and gets good grades. 

But my biggest goal for life after high school is becoming a nurse. Watching my aunt and other healthcare workers on the front lines, sacrificing and working hard to keep people healthy has been the biggest inspiration and I want to be like them. I want to graduate with a Biochemistry degree and then pursue medical school. If I can do complete my undergraduate while playing volleyball, it would be the ultimate dream and I will work hard to get it.