Lia Cartagena '21 Recruiting Profile

I started my volleyball career my 7th grade year when I tried out for my volleyball team in Neptune middle school. I only made the first cut an not the second. That summer I started summer camps and pushing myself more and more. 8th grade year I tried out again and made it. After that season I started on my first season at St. Cloud. That summer my first high school year started. I was stressed as heck because I wanted to make varsity. A couple weeks went by an I made jv. It didn’t upset me, I just needed to work a little harder. After our first game coach came to talk to me. She had asked me if I wanted to join the varsity team. I gladly excepted. Sophomore year I was rezoned to gateway high school which is probably one of the weakest teams in Osceola county. The season ended up very well, it was the first time gateway has been to districts in a long time. My parents have always been my biggest supporters. Over time the sport has taught me to grow. I love meeting new people and making new connections even with adults that being in a volleyball team came with. I love the challenge and the pressure of the game. I set my standards and expectations very high set.