Rachel Phelan '21 Recruiting Profile

    Starting volleyball I wasn't the most athletic or even the greatest player on the team. I started volleyball my 6th grade year in middle school with no experience but just the thought of wanting to try it. Someone that I knew told me about volleyball and we would just pass it back in forth in the front yard. I started volleyball knowing how to put my hands together and knowing the basic rules. In my middle school years of volleyball I didn't have a real coach that knew how to play the sport but brought in people to help teach us. Throughout those first three years, my teammates along with working on things myself helped get me to learn how to serve, set, block, hit, and pass more accurately. Even though I didn't know much and wasn't the best, volleyball became a sport that I love. I then moved on to high school and went to summer conditioning before my freshman year. Through that small period of time I learned a lot of new things. I began to move faster and more confidently. My coach worked with me and I continued to practice by doing 20 touches of passing, then 20 hits to the wall, then on to 20 sets, etc. a day. These drills helped me improve my performance. This lead to me making the JV team at Riley High School. Once season had ended, I was awarded with the wildcat award. This award is given to the student athletes that are always hustling, very coachable, show commitment, and show much improvement throughout the season. After season, I went to play for NIVA for the first time. I tried out as an OH and RS. I made a team and began to play middle hitter along with outside and right-side hitter. Playing club was a very educational and huge learning experience. I came out of club season having stronger, higher blocks along with harder, faster hits. Once summer came back around, I began summer workouts and conditioning for my high school volleyball team again. We began season and I had made a spot on the varsity team as well as a spot on the JV team. I was a starter for the JV team and switched in to play outside and middle and occasionally back row for the varsity team. As season continued I began to play more and more and even started a few games for varsity. I did however get injured mid-way through/ towards the end of season. I healed after season had finished but began to play club volleyball once more. I was told by my coaches for NIVA and my high school team that I have improved and am continuing to improve while I also show determination and relentlessness. They say that I never give up and am very coachable and that I always hustle. They say I am a fun player and is always trying to keep the energy up and play hard and try to leave everything on the court. They continue to tell me that I am a very nice athlete to have and that I have great, athletic ability and that they would love to continue coaching me. As time has gone on,  I am continuing to learn and improve my skill in the sport that I love.

     I may not have the most experience out of all the other athletes. I do however have determination and the want to get better and continue playing. I am a coachable, multi-sport, academically achieved, charismatic, hardworking, and proactive athlete. I am great with multitasking and time management. I enjoy playing the game and am a competitive person. I am an athlete that loves the game and wants to continue to play throughout the rest of my years in high school and throughout college.