Elani Ratchkovska '23 Recruiting Profile

My family has always been a big influence factor in my life. I look up to my parents in many ways because,  coming from Bulgaria they had many goals and stayed determined to complete them. Their hard-working attitudes were instilled in me since I was little, which has helped me a lot throughout my life. I became in love with the sport when I was in kindergarten but started playing club when I was about 9 years old. Before volleyball I played 5 other sports until I found the one I truly loved. Since I was little, I naturally grew up around the volleyball world. Every summer in Bulgaria, I would watch my cousin compete in the Bulgarian national team and see how determined she is to win. To this day I am still amazed when I watch them because of their love for the sport.  After I started playing a couple of years of club volleyball, I asked my mom if I could practice with the younger teams in Bulgaria. When we went the next summer, I practiced at one of the top clubs in Bulgaria. I was so interested to learn new things and see how they coach and their point of view. I have grown mentally and physically while playing volleyball. I am always so excited to learn new things and explore new skills. I learned time management, and how to use my free time wisely. Planning ahead and being prepared for anything school wise is always something I need to in order to manage playing a sport and my academics. I believe that I am different from other recruits because of my willingness to learn anything new. I am always up for a challenge and I always give all of me during practice. I believe that I need to do my job on the court to the best of my ability to benefit the team. I always encourage my teammates no matter the situation we’re in, along with preforming well under pressure, and not letting anything get to me. I know that as soon as I step on the court that I change the mood right away because of my attitude and energy. If we take a loss, I take it as a learning experience and try to improve on what I can do better the next time I’m on the court. As a 5-time capitan, I know that I have the ability to lead your team and be successful.