Selestine Braun Liu-Asomua '25 Recruiting Profile

I love this game. It means everything to me - family, excellence, thinking, drive, problem-solving, sheer athleticism, team-work, and adaptability. My intro to Volleyball was before I was born on the NZ Pro-Tour along for the ride with my mom and dad, at 2 I was on the bench with the manager while my parents played in a national championship - and throughout my childhood,  my cousins and I were forever interrupting our big cousins, Aunties and Uncles playing on the backyard grass courts my Grandma would set up just like she did in Samoa in our home in New Zealand. I finally got my chance and started playing club when I turned 13. 

I've been so lucky to have family support my journey driving an hour and a half to play for my team for the last 5 years - the University of Manitoba Jr Bisons, to get me to the city as a 14 year old playing for the Team Manitoba Provincial 18U team,  to Florida to play with 18U BTG Canada Selects, and support me through the challenges of being asked to play up as a 15 year old, and end up starting for the best team in my province. My time playing has had challenges and hurdles, but plenty of highs - winning every school zone championship so far since Jr High as captain, captaining my club team until I started playing up, and winning our Provincial Beach Competition age group every year since we started. All along the way my sisters, family and grandparents have been there, and it's their support that has given me the strength to chase my goals, take on challenges, and continue to grow as an athlete and person.

I believe I'm the kind of athlete who contributes to all aspects of a team and can adapt to fill roles in any given situation. Being part of a big family has helped me to develop flexibility and quick-thinking. I bring this to the court by noticing how my teammates are responding, looking for different ways to terminate the play, finding moments to pick-my team up, or celebrating as the ultimate hype woman and letting others take the lead when they're on fire. My Samoan culture has a saying 'o le ala i le pule o le tautua'  or 'the pathway to leadership is through service'. We can serve with our skills, our humour, our support, our strength, by being humble or by quick thinking. But, I believe my gift as an athlete is to be able to bring these together and adapt to serve my team and our goals in the ways that are needed in each moment. From leading the way with discipline and work ethic in the weight room, to pushing the pace in circuits and cardio, to looking for chances for extra reps, and finding opportunities to help out developing teams and programs in my community - my love for this game drives me to serve and contribute in every way I can.

Finally, one of my greatest strengths that I bring to a team, is my love for the big moments. The pressure, the "Crunch time". To me, this is one of the biggest reasons we play - to test ourselves and to reach new heights when we're under pressure, or in the "do or die" moments. I live for this. I want the ball, the deep float receive, to be standing on the line to serve - when we're down, or when the we're in the 5th set of a championship and the score is 29-28 or 22-10. Those are the moments I thrive in, and I love to lift my team to believe we can execute things they maybe didn't believe before. 

Thanks for looking at my profile! I'd love to talk about how I can contribute to your program!