Laughlin Murray '21 Recruiting Profile

Ever since I started playing volleyball I knew that I'd found something that would last a long time, and pretty soon I knew that I wanted to play in college one day. I tried several other sports but none fit like volleyball, and now I call the volleyball court my "happy place." I am focused and I work hard to be better and better player and teammate every day. I love the feeling you get when the hours of practice finally pay off and something "clicks" and it helps you win a big point! I also love the feeling you get when your team comes together and the 6 girls on the court are truly playing as one unit, with everyone contributing to one unified end goal.

Beyond the court, I find that playing volleyball keeps me energized and motivated in other areas of my life like schoolwork. I want to go to the school that is the best fit for me - with great volleyball, great academics, great people who care about me and the others around them, and with a great athletic department that supports the volleyball program. I know that seems like a tall order!

I have had a lot of really great coaches, but the one who has influenced me the most is Katelyn Bishop Harrison, a former starting Middle Blocker at USC (Southern California) and current Assistant Coach at the College of Charleston. She is a family friend and not only gives me lessons in volleyball but she also gives me lessons in life. She has done a lot of things in the volleyball world that I aspire to do (she was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana and one of the top D1 recruits in the country) and I look up to her like a big sister and a mentor. She reminds me a lot of myself which makes that easier to relate to her and learn from her. She has shown me how to be a humble, competitive, team player and leader and an all-around good person. If she coached for a team in a different city, I'd really love to play for her, but for college I really want to spread my wings and leave my hometown of Charleston, SC.