Amanda Borden '16 Recruiting Profile

I pretty much grew up in the gym.  My mom coached high school volleyball from the time I was about 5.  I can remember thinking her players looked like giants.  I couldn't wait to be on my 7th grade team.

I always thought I wanted to play in college but didn't realize until this last year what it was going to take for a small town farm kid with very limited volleyball resources to get noticed.  I have solely dedicated the last year on getting better at my sport.  I gave up basketball and golf.  Got on a strength training program with one of our football coaches, and started paying very close attention to my diet.  My parents made the sacrifice of driving me 120 miles round trip 2-3 times a week to club practices not including I-10 tournaments and qualifiers.  This was my first club season and I took note very quickly that I was a little behind and therefore going to have to work that much harder.  Luckily I LOVE to practice!  I get excited to get better.  This year I got to spend a lot of gym time with Division 1 players that not only inspired me, but gave me the confidence to truly be a leader not only to my teammates, but especially the sub-varsity teams.  The impact these young ladies  had on me has me super excited to bring back what I have learned to my senior season this year.

I am the second of 4 children, so I know how to share, compromise, and work together.  I have two brothers and have had to defend them on occasion on the bus.  I have grown up on a farm, my dad was an Ag teacher for 16 years and my mom is a nurse.  We have all grown up with many responsibilities and a strong work ethic.

Because I live and play in a small town I have had to play all positions at one time or another.  This used to frustrate me until my club coach told me I could be a 6 rotation player.  He encouraged me to embrace the position I needed to play to best help my team, as this would make me an asset to any program.  I was an outside/opposite for my club and even played in the middle some, and I am a setter/hitter for my school.  I love to play defense!  I am looking for a college that will know exactly what to do with a player like me.   I am  a solid player with good court sense, above average skills and I am very coachable.  I get excited when a coach makes a change in form, or position.  I look at it as a challenge. 

My parents have stressed the importance of setting a solid example for my younger siblings.  Especially in the classroom.  Grades always come first.   My parents are college educated and my brother is just finishing up his Freshman year at Texas A&M University.  I am looking for a school that fits my academic interests as well.  I would like to study something in the field of agriculture.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about me, and hopefully I will be talking to you in person.

Amanda