Sierra Fugate '15 Recruiting Profile

Bump, set, spike. Those are the characteristics that everybody knows volleyball for, but no one takes into account the passion and dedication this sport has. My passion is shown every time the ball is being set up, the adrenaline I get right before hitting it. Right before my team scores a point. That's my favorite thing; being able to depend on your team to be there to dig the ball up or dive for the ball when it goes past you. That is where the dedication comes in. I first started volleyball in the 7th grade, nothing extremely exciting about middle school volleyball. It was just the beginning of my development of skills and love for the sport. The real excitement began my freshman year of high school, more competition, and a higher level of abilities were required. At my small school it always seemed like people played just to do something. For me, playing volleyball is my life, it's what I went to bed thinking about. Leading to me waking up thinking about how to fix my mistakes. It was easy to have dedication for this sport because I have a never ending love for the sport and who I have become because of it. 

    Volleyball has made me more confident in every way. You have to be confident with every play. If you aren't, you will question every decision you make. The ball would drop right in front of me if I didn't have the confidence this sport takes. Being self-reliant in my abilities when I approach the net for a spike makes it possible to hit the ball with power and aim. I have learned to believe in myself, something I've struggled with for a long time. My team and the sport has built up my confidence by showing me what I am capable of doing. The influence the sport has had on who I am as a person couldn't have happened with out the impact of the strong male figures in my life. 

    My Coach Darrin has influenced and inspired me to be the best I can be. His abilities to play volleyball makes me want to be as good as he his. Another male figure that has inspired me is my dad. He is always there to push me and motivate me to do things I need to get done. My dad just wants me to go farther in life than he did, he wants me to be the best I can be. Unfortunately, he didn't get a full education, so he has always inspired me to do well in school. That way I can further my education and continue to play volleyball. He was the first person to see my full potential in volleyball and has pushed me to thrive for greatness in everything I do. Whether it is me digging up a ball or tipping a ball over the net, I try to make him proud.