Sydney Thompson-Hammack '26 Recruiting Profile

What drives me? Growing up I did not have opportunities to play youth sports due to my family’s financial situation as my mom raised me as a single mother. When I started playing volleyball in middle school, it became apparent I was at an athletic disadvantage because my teammates were a lot more experienced by playing in youth sports. However, this did not deter me! Around this time, my mother remarried and got a promotion, earning more money and having more free time. Outside of athletics, we would go to open gym hours and even request a coach to open the gym on weekends so we could practice skills. My freshman year, my high school hired an elite volleyball coach who not only brought exceptional volleyball experience but motivation, drive, and perseverance. I wanted to get better and play at a higher level. Unfortunately, she coached that year, so my mom continued working with me and taking me to summer volleyball camps. My sophomore year, I started on Junior Varsity as a setter. Myself and the other setter were the only players with volleyball experience. It was, at times frustrating, but we learned valuable leadership skills in motivating our teammates. For my junior year, it was my goal to make varsity and libero/defensive specialist. I worked with my mom nearly everyday at the high school gym on skills and, when we weren’t at the gym, I was attending a camp. That year I earned a spot on varsity and played libero and defensive specialist. My team was District Runners-up, Bi-District Champions, and Area Qualifiers. Because I felt like I missed out on opportunities in elementary and middle school, I decided to try out for a club team to gain more experience and exposure. I made the 18U team as a defensive specialist and played in numerous spring tournaments. During that spring semester of my junior year and into the summer before my senior year, I attended private coaching lessons with a community college libero and one of my club volleyball coaches. For my senior year, the coach from my freshman year decided to return to my high school! She worked with us immediately at the beginning of the summer, and I have made varsity defensive specialist my senior year and I am a starter. I’m driven to play at the college level because I am hungry to play at a higher level. I want to play, to dig the ball and feel that adrenaline rush to keep the ball in play, setting my team up for amazing plays. When I see a hitter go for the kill, all I can think is “I’m gonna dig that.” What drives me is the challenge to get better and positively contribute to my team!