- 2019 Highlights
Personal Statement
My name is Kylee DeLong and I am a 5’7” Senior at Northwest High School, in Justin, Texas (Class of 2021). I am a student in the STEM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) within the high school. I will be starting my Senior year of varsity volleyball, where I was the starting Libero/Defensive Specialist. I am also happy to announce this coming 2020-2021 club volleyball season, I will be playing for the North Point Volleyball Club out of Denton, Texas. Here at North Point, I will be playing Libero/DS for the 18's National team.
I started competing in athletics at age 4, where I played soccer, volleyball, sand volleyball and swam. I played competitive club soccer for five years and played recreational volleyball until I was 10 years old. This is when I decided to pursue my real passion, volleyball. I have aspired in advancing to the next level in volleyball since elementary school. It has always been a dream of mine to go to college and become a successful Collegiate Student Athlete like both of my parents.
I believe being a member of the volleyball team and the STEM Academy has taught me how to be mature and how to work through obstacles. It has also taught me leadership skills such as determination, confidence, communication, as well as time management, organization and team collaboration. I have learned to be supportive and encouraging to my teammates, as well as how to use constructive criticism to better a teammate. I am a very coachable player, always willing to learn or try any new techniques thrown at me. I like challenges and think of them as a way for me to improve and advance as a player and teammate.
Through my years of club volleyball at No Limits VBC and Texas Pistols VBC, I have trained and gained valuable playing experience and volleyball skills working with great coaches and playing with great teammates. During my time with the Texas Pistols, I competed at a high level in volleyball and have been blessed to be on a team that made Nationals three years in a row.
Throughout my club volleyball career, I have had to compete against other girls on my team with great skills and have successfully been able to prove my skills as a starter and all-around player on the court. However, I show my strength in the Libero/DS position, which is where my passion is on the court. My freshman year of high school I made the JV Volleyball team, was a starter, all-around player and received the MVP award. I made Varsity as a sophomore and was awarded the Academic All-District. My junior, year on varsity, I was the starting DS and lead our team in serving aces and finished second with digs. I was also awarded Honorable Mention All-District and Academic All-District. I will strive to grow my senior year academically and athletically as I continue my career and push myself to become a Collegiate Student Athlete.
In the past, I have overcome negative criticism and hardships from my peers and mentors by working hard and refusing to never give up. I can say this has only made me a stronger and more determined athlete, which has encouraged me to achieve my goals in the future as a Collegiate Student Athlete.
Academically, my goal is to maintain a 4.5 weighted GPA or higher and continue challenging myself with Pre-AP and AP classes through high school, which will better prepare me for college. I plan to pursue a major within the medical field as an athletic trainer/physical therapist. I also want to pursue a minor in photography and develop it as a business on the side.
Some of my unique characteristics and skills I possess are my ability to draw and sing. I have qualified for the district art show four times and received 2nd place with one of my drawings. I have also had the privilege to sing the National Anthem for two Lone Star Volleyball Tournaments and three high school sporting events. I also love the outdoors, snow skiing, water skiing, wake-boarding, hunting, fishing, climbing trees, riding ATVs and studying animal anatomy.
In my personal life, I have a passion for art, medical science, photography, golf and the outdoors. Ever since I was little, I have found the study of medical sciences, such as surgery, incredibly fascinating. Art has been a hobby of mine since Kindergarten and is a way for me to relax and express myself in times of stress. I also grew up with a love for the outdoors and frequently go to my grandparents’ ranch in Oklahoma. When I’m there, I spend most of my time hunting, fishing, and riding ATVs around in mud. Golf and photography are two other hobbies I have recently picked up. I began taking up photography when I was given a camera last Christmas and love taking pictures of sunsets and the sky. I’m currently learning the best methods of editing photos in order to advance the image details and effects.
As I look forward to my senior year at Northwest High School, I will continue to focus on my growth as a student athlete on the court and in the classroom. Academically, I will challenge myself and work hard to excel in the classroom environment. I am looking forward to attending a university that can recognize me for both my volleyball and academic skills. I believe I am fully prepared to meet the challenges of playing and learning at the next level.
