Katie Kania '16 Recruiting Profile

        Growing up with three athletic older sisters, I had the chance to witness several different sports and choose which ones I wanted to play. Although I also played softball on a travel team for several years, ever since I started volleyball in fifth grade, my love of the sport has not stopped growing. I am now passionate about volleyball. I hope to some day play as a defensive specialist or libero on a college team that can challenge me mentally and physically. I have particularly learned the past few years how important the teammates that surround you are, so I also hope that the team I find focuses on positive attitudes as well as competitive drive. I work very hard to push myself every chance I get to further improve my skills. My experience in playing all three hitting and back row positions has given me a good sense of the game and the strategy that comes with the competitive level at which I play. I consistently watch tapes of all my games to improve my strategy and knowledge of the game. I have played on a club team for three years through Xcel Volleyball Performance. This past club season, my team that came in fifth at the Girls' Junior National Championships in Dallas in July 2013, where I was voted to the 15s American Division All-Tournament team.  My coach nominated me as the team captain for my last club season, which taught me several things about leadership and how to handle myself on the court.  In my ninth grade year, I was named MVP of my JV team and was named to the All-Tournament team of my league. My discipline and hard work also shows in all of my classes. I make all A's, including in several honors courses I have taken. I hope to attend a university with excellent academics as well as a great volleyball team. I look forward to the possibility of playing college volleyball and to opening communication with schools that are looking for a DS or libero in the fall of 2016.