Aubree Ricketts '20 Recruiting Profile

Volleyball has always been a part of my life, but I didn't realize how much I loved the sport until I didn't make my 6th grade team.  After not making the team, I decided that I would practice as much as I could to make sure that I had a chance in 7th grade.  All summer before my 7th grade year, my mom and dad practiced with me every single day.  They taught me the background of the sport and when try-outs came, I made it.  My dream began to come true.  I worked hard.  I didn't make it exactly where I wanted to be, but that just taught me that I needed to grow more.  I needed to watch what others were doing and listen to what the coaches needed me to do and strive for perfection.  

I begged my parents to try out for club volleyball.  I made the team at Club One and was so excited.  I played there for two years.  I grew a lot and the coaches gave me some great insight.  This club helped me make my high school team at Plainfield Central.  I played for Club One another year, but my my high school teammates, those who dreamt of playing in college, spoke of how great Sports Performance was in helping players reach this goal, which of course was my goal.  Finally, my sophomore year, I took the leap and tried out for Sports Performance and was thrilled when I made the cut.  

Playing at Sports Performance has taught me so much about myself.  It has taught me how to manage my time.  School doesn't always come easy to me and I have to work hard.  And with my club practice schedule, I really had to understand what it meant to  have time management.  When I began to struggle in my classes, I began to get upset with myself.  Instead of giving up, I persevered.  I would get home from practice around 9 and then I would work with a tutor until 10 to 10:30.  I needed my G.P.A. to stay up to ensure I could achieve my dream of playing a collegiate sport and also needing my G.P.A. to be accepted into college.  As disappointed as I was with my final grades in two of my courses, I promised myself it wouldn't happen again, and with dedication to the sport and my classes, I was able to raise my grades for the second semester of my Junior year.  

I know I would be a great candidate for any college, because I have work ethic.  I know what it takes to endure a heavy practice schedule, a heavy tournament schedule and a heavy class schedule.  I have had so many different coaches over the course of my years playing volleyball and they have all taught me something about myself to help me continue to grow.  I am able to receive constructive criticism and apply it to my skill to improve my defense and passing.  I am determined to always better myself.  

Two great moments within my volleyball career have been taking home a medal at the Orlando, FL AAU Nationals and earning my Libero position within my high school team.