Personal Statement
Hello, my name is Ella Drake.
It is my desire to play volleyball at the next level, just like my big sister, Madeline Drake. I have been playing volleyball for 6 years but I have been around the game since I was 2 years old! I am a very competitive person who has a deep love for the game and my team.
I am a hard worker who puts in time outside of my team volleyball practices to increase my skills. I have been training with a trainer for quite some time now to increase my vertical, speed, and improve my footwork. Something cool about my trainer is that he is very focused on injury prevention. I believe going to him has helped me elevate my game even more. My other focus outside the gym is on my mental game. I enjoy reading books on the subject, like Mind Gym and Relentless. I also spend time with our club mental training coach setting goals and practicing imagery.
This year I was positively affected by the USAV age cutoff change. I have always been the youngest on my team but was able to transition to a team where I am now the oldest. This year I've stepped into a bigger leadership role being the oldest with the most club experience. I take my responsibility of being the team captain very seriously. I am very excited to see our success this season!
I have attended the same private school my entire life - Regent Preparatory School of Oklahoma. Even though it is small, I love how closely knit the community is and how the teachers take time to invest in each individual student. The academic standards are high and I appreciate the challenge. I'm thankful for the preparation for college Regent is giving me.
