Personal Statement
My experience on the volleyball court so far has come with many highs and lows and has taught me so much about the game, myself, and what I want for the future. As a freshman in high school, I was blessed to play with my older sister, Payton, on varsity and win a state championship. Beating the reigning 5-time state champions in the semifinals and then going on to win in the final game was an incredible experience. I learned so much that season including the power of a team that works hard, is for each other, and has a culture of positive energy and determination. A year later, this past November, we once again played in the state finals but lost. We were outplayed and upset. It was my sister’s last high school game, so it made it especially hard. I learned some hard lessons in that game and through the season about how to maintain my self-confidence, be willing to take risks under pressure, and focus on the moment - one play at a time - instead of the final outcome.
Volleyball is a huge part of my family’s culture. Payton, my older sister, started playing at the age of 10, and playing with her in the backyard is what sparked my passion for the sport. My younger sister, Reese, plays volleyball as well, so our family is in the gym and at tournaments nearly year-round, which we all love. Payton will play for Ole Miss volleyball in the fall. It will be hard to see her go because of all she has taught me and the experiences we have had playing together, but I am looking forward to watching her compete at the college level. I am also looking forward to having more space to come into my own - as Audrey - and not just Payton’s sister. Watching Payton go through the recruiting process taught me a lot about how hard it is to play at the next level and how much work is needed to self advocate and find a good fit. It also made me realize how much I too want to play college volleyball.
I started playing club volleyball at 11. I have always been a good teammate, as I get along well with pretty much everyone, and I care more about my team’s success than I do my own. The relationships I have with my teammates continue to be extremely important to me, and I have learned the value of knowing and appreciating my teammates as players and as people - on and off the court.
As a player, I have grown so much in my understanding of the game and the strategy involved and have worked hard to improve the technical side of passing, playing defense, blocking and hitting footwork, etc. I am a smart player and a student of the game, which makes me coachable as well.
Personally, I have had to lean hard into my faith to know that my value is not attached to my performance on the court and to be confident in who I am and what I bring to the table. My faith in God is very important to me, as He is my source of strength, courage, stability, and hope.
Mental toughness is something I have worked hard on and am intentional about improving every time I step on the court. My dad has always told me, ‘Control what you can control,’ and I know that I can control how I show up on the court, so I make every effort to show up at every practice and game focused, confident, determined, and ready to go all out - even if things don’t go well - even if I don’t play well.
I am so excited to continue to grow and improve as a volleyball player and as a person and to pursue playing at the college level. I know that I will make whatever team I play for better because of my attitude, investment, competitiveness, passion, and enjoyment of the game.
