Emily Tan '26 Recruiting Profile

I had first started playing volleyball when I was in freshman year of high school, with my friends. It quickly grew on me, the sport was exciting, every pass, set, and hit was different in every game. It was unpredictable and exhilarating. Although I, having started at a later age than most, wasn't as skilled as my friends or other people I played with, I didn't let that stop me. I learned to make up my lack of skill in hustle, and as time progressed, my skills got better but my hustle was still there. I've always been asked, "how do you manage to save plays that seem impossible to play?" "doesn't it hurt when you dive?" and my answer has always been the same. Yes, you need skill for volleyball, but the other half of the sport is the mental part, the mindset. It doesn't matter if you're a skilled player, if you have the mindset that you can't play good, you never will. This sport isn't only about skill, it's about confidence, commitment, dedication. I have played with teammates in the past that didn't hustle, that always complained about having trouble getting balls up and I always gave the same advice; it's how you think, if you see the ball and you think, "Oh, it's so far, I probably can't get to it in time," you will never get it. It's about the confidence you have in your abilities, the effort you put into using your skills to the full potential, and the commitment to the ball.