Delaney Smith '20 Recruiting Profile

One of the biggest and toughest decisions I made during my freshman year was to transfer from my local high school to The New Hampton School, a college preparatory school that was and continues to be a great fit for me. New Hampton allows me to be more independent, challenges me academically, encourages leadership and has fostered my ability to advocate for myself. However the change in schools was not without drawbacks, and while New Hampton allowed me to continue with dance, lacrosse and great athletics, it did not have a volleyball team.  However,  after playing my middle school and freshman year seasons for Inter-Lakes School District and knowing New Hampton did not have a volleyball team I approached the varsity coach at Inter-Lakes and the Athletic Director at New Hampton and expressed my desire to keep playing volleyball for Inter-Lakes. Both schools were very supportive and as a result, I have continued to play high school varsity volleyball for Inter-Lakes while attending New Hampton as a day student.

            Volleyball became my passion in eighth grade. I played on a Fourteen U Junior Olympic travel team that won the Boston Mizuno tournament and finished our season third in New England. I then played my freshman year as a starting Middle on my junior varsity team that finished the regular season undefeated followed by a Fifteen U JO season where we finished second in New England. This past high school season I was a starter on my varsity team that recorded an undefeated regular season followed by an appearance in the New Hampshire Division Three State Championship game that is where our perfect season ended. Having an almost perfect season, but losing the championship, made me want to develop stronger on-court skills, but also pointed out the need for strong leadership when things were not going well.  It is easier to lead when you are winning and more difficult when you are not.

This year I will attend volleyball camps to learn from other coaches, work with a physical trainer and play on my Seventeen U JO team. With hard work, dedication and passion for the sport, I know I can excel in a collegiate program while embracing the academic challenges.