Ceanna Cantrell '16 Recruiting Profile

        When I first stepped on the court I knew that it would be something that could change my life and make me better. When I started playing volleyball I knew that if I pushed my self then, I could make a career with this opportunity. I started playing volleyball when I was 7 years old. I started playing with the Little Diggers, a program that gave children like me in the community an opportunity to participate in sports and athletics.

       I started learning the ways of volleyball and the basics. The program was a great idea. The only reason I chose to start playing Little Diggers was because my mother had mentioned it and told me that I should try it out and that I might like it. It gave me the option to play and get the feeling of what I was going to be playing when I started Junior High. Once I started Junior High, I was kind of worried that I wasn't going to be a good player or if it would turn out that volleyball was not the sport for me. It turned out I continued to play, and my progress got better. I was not to worried since I knew that my coach was there to help me become better in that sport. Junior High is where I first became a setter, which was a new position for me that I was willing to take on because I had a feeling that this would be a great opportunity for me because I love covering and diving.

        When I got into High School, I worked even harder on my setting than I was working on my back row defense, which I would have never thought I would be good at. I have noticed when I play back row it is like a different world because not only am I playing my spot, but I am also helping my team mates that are on the back row with me as well. Another reason I love playing back row is because I love picking up spikes, and sometime I switch and become a back row hitter. At the beginning of the season, I started on the varsity team and just kept working harder and became a starter by my sophomore year, which was great because my coach told us that it does not matter if you are a senior or a freshman, if you put in 100% then you will be one of the starting six. When I heard this I instantly started working harder and pushing my self to prove that I deserve a starting position.

            The only way I was able to continue playing was through my academics. I made sure that I was keeping on top of all my classes and working hard. My grades were always my first priority because with out passing grades I would not have been eligible to play sports or anything so my mother and father always pushed me to keep my grades up so that I could continue to play. If it was not for my parents, I doubt that I would be where I am now and having this amazing opportunity. Now I can prove to my family that I am doing something with myself and that I now have a chance of becoming something great, like my father always wanted to for me.