Ali Denney '16 Recruiting Profile

I was born on Maui, Hawaii and moved to Florida when I was 10 years old. My parents were the first people to bring the sport of paddle boarding to the East Coast. Coming from a family of surfers I had never played volleyball. My mom found a recreational program and signed me up. We ended up winning the whole tournament. So I began playing more and more and kept learning about the sport.  Because of my birthday, I play with the girls that are a grade older than me and I had to work even harder than they did because I had to catch up. They had all been playing for about a year longer than I, so training was crucial if I wanted to keep playing at a higher level. Although I may not be a straight-A student, I take difficult courses to challenge myself. I am not a fan of having things given to me and I constantly give myself challenges and goals so I can continuously grow in all that I do. I think that I differ from other recruits because I not only give 100% into my play, but also into my teammates. I love improving as a player and as a leader, but I also love watching and helping my teammates improve throughout our season together. With my father being a sports psychologist, attitude has a very important role for me as a player. I think keeping a positive attitude, no matter what the situation, not only helps me grow as a player and leader, but also helps shape my character.