Karmella Gearhart '21 Recruiting Profile

The ability to keep your team united and driven is much more important than any other skill in this game. Everyone knows volleyball is a team sport, and cannot be played successfully unless the team is working as a unit. Many past coaches, teammates, and parents have explained to me that I have a natural ability to keep my team united on the court, and to pull my team out of deep holes by simply uplifting my teammates with high energy and positive affirmation. This was shown when I was given the role of being a team captain for my club team last year while being awarded the "leader of the pack," at the end of the season. I was also given the best sportsmanship award at state this previous high school season. This trait is important to me because, It's vital to the teams success and chemistry on the court, and because I know it cannot be taught to me by anyone else but myself. Along with good attitude, I seek learning and getting better in the game constantly. Whether I'm playing or researching the game, becoming more knowledgable is a huge passion of mine rather than a chore, which is what causes that high energy of happiness on the court that other's can't help to feel as well. This instills a drive that no other player has, I want to win bad, but I want to do it while learning with my team which is what drives me even more. I don't just play for myself, I play for my coaches, teammates, and the people watching as well.