Shelby Banker '21 Recruiting Profile

I put in 130% during practice and in games. I also put in 150% into my school work. I work well with others.  I have been playing volleyball since the sixth grade. It is she only sport that I have truly loved and haven't felt like can't do it. I have been wanting to play at a college level ever since eighth grade when i meet the coach that would change my playing skills and she made me the player that i am today. She helped me realize that if i put in the effort than i will get better and when i started with her i was making every 1 out of 5 serves and i wasn't moving my feet. My freshman year i had to say bye to her as a coach but now she is one of my best friends. Sophomore year i went to open gyms and got a lot better i was getting my over hand serve a lot easier and i was putting in so much all summer, until the last day of try outs. We were doing karaokes down the court and a girl backed up into me and my ankle twisted and i landed on it, I got up and continued it hurt a little bit. We were on the other side of the gym and she backed up into me again and i did the same thing but worse. I couldn't get up on my own. Once i was up i walked to sit down and the coaches got me ice and the girls all stopped. One of the coaches was my old English teacher. He wouldn't let me get up and he had a girl go get the trainer. She came up checked out my ankle. I had severely sprained my ankle, almost a fracture.  I was so worried that i wasn't gonna be able to play again. I was in a boot for a few days. I was on vacation and i was able to walk and run on it. When i got to the first practice, all the girls wanted to know why i showed up, I showed up because i was a part of the team and i need to be there to get better. I couldn't play that practice. The next few practices the coach told me to take it easy. I pushed myself to the limit. I felt so great to have made it through practice and show that just because i have an issue with my ankle doesn't mean that i can;t play. Now i still get pains and soreness in my ankle and i have to play with a brace or i have to have my ankle tapped but i still get to do what i love even if it hurts. This is the sport that means the most, it helps me cope with stress and everything that goes on in my life.