Phoenix Ward '24 Recruiting Profile

My love for volleyball can only be rivaled by the love I have for my family.  I am the baby in my house to twin brothers who are 12 years older than me.  I have them to thank for my ability to adapt and react my perseverance, intuition, and drive because when you have older brothers "ganging up" on their baby sister, you have to have certain skills to survive.  While I have them to thank for those skills, I have my two sisters-in-law to thank for teaching me how to plan, communicate effectively, and be a team player (the necessary skills to get back at my brothers). All joking aside, growing up with older brothers, older cousins, and my sisters-in-law have given me a perspective and maturity level greater than that of my peers. I believe this is part of the reason I have been told by teachers and coaches that I take a leadership role in the classroom and on the court.

I lost my dad to cancer when I was 12 and after that devastating loss, I found the most comfort at school. Bay Ridge Prep quickly became my happy place. I loved the escape and the supportive and nurturing environment that it provided me. I have always loved school, and I have always been a straight A student, I love math and science most of all, and it is my goal to find a college that offers a Biochemistry, Biology, or Chemistry major and a strong volleyball team.  

It isn't just the academics that I love that made school my happy place, it is the volleyball ball team, the softball team, the basketball team, the theater troop, and the band that kept my schedule extremely busy.  My downtime outside of school was spent, with my two dogs (Storm and River) and playing club volleyball.   Although I was kept busy, I thrived on the hard work it took to make it possible to do all the things I loved while keeping up my grades.  That all came to a halt in March of 2020.  After that, I spent time zooming into school and hours hitting the ball against the wall outside, passing and setting to myself while training my dogs not to eat the balls that I served across my yard.  

Pre Covid-19, I had played two seasons for NYC Juniors but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, they did not run their league out of Staten Island for the 2021 season.  Since my high school team didn't play this season either, I assumed, incorrectly, that all club ball was canceled.  After a little further research, I found Brooklyn Elite Volleyball who offered me a late tryout and a spot on their 15s team as their setter. I have continued to play for BEV for 2 more years!

On the court, I have played both setter and DS. Both positions require strong communication, intuition, and teamwork (remember I have my family to thank for those skills).  I realize that standing 5 foot 2 inches I am usually the smallest on the court, but what I lack in height I make up for with heart (I have my dad to thank for that).