Personal Statement
I am Sydney Hancock and I spent a lot time on the court. I am either playing, doing a demo for a clinic, coaching a clinic or ref younger volleyball teams in a middle school league. I would say this is sport that I have a passion for since I can remember. My parents coach volleyball and I enjoy helping out where ever I am needed. My older sister Kayla played and I so wanted to be like her but I knew I wanted to set the ball instead of making that great dig. My sister Kayla is five and half years older and seeing her level of play just put that passion in motion for volleyball. While Kayla was playing, I was too young to be on a team so I would grab a ball and head out to the hall with the best partner ever "THE WALL" and that wall was awesome. I would play against it for hours. I was told by my parents I had to wait until I was a 11 years old and I didn't think I would ever be 11. In 2011 my parents said you ready? My nerves and excitement was at whole new level of finally. I worked hard at every practice and tried to be the best teammate I can be.I had a teammates mom tell me I was terrible as a setter and I should not play. I was not hurt by her words in fact she pushed me to be better. You see her daughter was too a setter and older than me. That player played on a 18s team in 2013 and there was a tournament and the team was short on players. The coach said I need to use Sydney this weekend as a backup just in case. That moment came and here I was a 13 playing 18's. Yep that was a rush. I took control of the court like I have been playing 18's forever and I also was afraid but I knew not to show it. Long story short, the mom of my 18s teammate was the all time record holder in assists for a match and for a game at Bear Creek High. It took her 4 years to set and I broke those records at the same school in 3 years and I will set that record even higher. I thank that mom for driving me to be the best I can be on and off the court. I'm now 17 and I still get excited every time I take the court rather it's for my high school team or my club team.
