Alexis Bass '16 Recruiting Profile

• Become a National Champion
• Make a difference and make history with my athletics and academic achievements at the college I attend
• Become a captain/ leader no matter what my role is on a team or in the classroom
• Graduate with a 3.8 or higher
• Inspire others
• Set a positive example for my teammates and classmates

I will make a great addition to your team because I am willing to run through walls and jump through hoops to be the best teammate and person possible, as I will put forth my absolute best effort on and off the court every single day. I wake up every day with the same goals and aspirations in mind. I wake up wanting to inspire others. I wake up striving to make my dreams turn into my reality. I wake up with the desire to make myself a stronger athlete, teammate, classmate, and overall person.  I wake up with the highest standards for myself because I know that I can achieve anything. I wake up never satisfied, because being ok with average isn’t good enough for me. I wake up knowing that the sky is my limit. I wake up ready to give 100% because I know there are thousands of other girls with the same dreams, goals, and aspirations in mind. I wake up for the passion of living, breathing, and loving volleyball each and every day.
I have made multiple sacrifices for this great sport, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Some of these sacrifices include missing my church mission trip every year because of Nationals, missing out on social gatherings, birthdays, vacations, Friday nights, and Best Buddy events (organization for special needs kids to interact with other high schoolers). I sacrifice all of these things because I love volleyball so much. I know that if I want to reach my potential and be the very best I can be, sacrifice comes with my dreams. I’ve adapted to sacrifice so much that I love Friday night practices and those extra reps, all those extra hours in the gym that really make the difference on the court. Yes I miss out on some things, but I refuse to miss out on any extra reps or time I can to make myself better on and off the court. At the end of the day, a sacrifice turns into a reward and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
              Some of my teammates describe me as the team “peacemaker”, the team mom, and the “goody-too-shoes” of the team because of the way I make sure I follow every rule and guideline to the very best of my ability and because I want to make every one of my teammates produces the most success for themselves and our team as much as possible. I make every effort to make sure that my teammates are all happy and successful on and off the court because I know the littlest of things can be the difference between a win and a loss, and a champion to a runner-up.
              My dreams all began when I was ten years old watching the 2008 summer Olympics. I witnessed Misty May and Kerry Walsh become Olympic champions. Ever since their victorious moment I’ve been inspired. I fell in love with both the indoor and outdoor game of volleyball before even playing it. When I was ten years old began attending classes at our park district. After I felt like I needed a bit more of a challenge my dad knew of this new volleyball facility right down the street, Sports Performance Volleyball Club. He signed me up for some camps and clinics that I enjoyed very much. After gaining some experience and finding such a strong passion for such a great sport, I wanted to be a part of a team. So sure enough the fall when I turned 11 I was on 12 Navy. I was on my first ever volleyball team and I couldn’t have been more excited to take on this new and great opportunity to develop my volleyball skills. I finished off that season healthy, happy, and just craving more volleyball.
             Soon after that season another one rolled right around the corner. I was put on 12 Elite, which was the top team. I could’ve been more excited. During this season my team almost won our division in Nationals which was a great achievement for my team and I. I grew to get to know many different things about volleyball as I played both middle and setter. At our second to last tournament, the Youth Classic, I rolled my ankle. I ended up tearing a ligament and straining a tendon. I was casted for two and half months in the summer, but my love for volleyball never faded.  I went through rehab and was back to normal.
             I was in middle school now on the top team again in the thirteens age group. I was so thrilled and ready to get the new show on the road. I played middle my thirteens year.
I liked it a lot especially because I played with some of the same girls from my twelves season. This year was definitely a big jump for me, the net grew by six inches and so did the expectations /responsibilities, although I really liked the discipline. As AAU’s were approaching I rolled my ankle again, but injury was sure not going to stop me from playing in Florida, ultimately competing for a National Championship. Thank God this time my ankle roll wasn’t too severe. A couple weeks before, I worked with one of my master coaches. I mastered my serve and first contact skills because I wasn’t going to be released to jump. I knew I needed to find some way to help my team in the biggest tournament of our season.  
  By now I’ve gained about three years of volleyball experience and I have learned so much about myself even at just fourteen. My fourteens year was a bit of a bumpy season. I was on the second fourteens team as a middle. My team was full of personality and hard workers which was and is such a great environment to be in. In the middle of my fourteens season I rolled my ankle again. This time around it wasn’t as bad, although I still lost time and reps that I would never be able to get back. In AAU’s on the third day of tournament play I went down again, but of course without a fight. I got back up to cheer on my team for the rest of the tournament. Even though I knew I couldn’t fight with them on the court for our victories, I sure was on the sidelines.
             After getting home from Florida it was time to get healthy and strong again for my first high school season. Try outs came faster than ever. I made the sophomore team my freshman year, which I was happy about, even though I felt like my injury two months ago, had held me back from making my goal of starting on the varsity team. My first high school season was going really well. I played outside hitter and made excellent strides with my setter. We clicked so well that I started to feel like my mojo was coming back. During a drill in the last month of my high school season I rolled my ankle again for the fifth time. At this point I knew it was surgery time. I was to be fixed up at last. Deep inside I knew this was a sign from God telling me everything was meant to be. I knew after this fifth time, I’d be stronger than ever.
              It was that time of year again, club season! I was super anxious! Although I knew I wouldn’t be back 100% for my tryout or to make a team I hoped for, this was my 15's year, my time to shine no matter what the situation was I was going to find a way. There was one week before teams were finalized, and I was cleared that week. I knew I needed to find a way to stand out. I tried my very best. I landed myself a spot on 15 Navy, the fifth team. Disappointed in myself, but that motivated me. I was ready to go! I hoped to be a great leader and asset on that team no matter what. As the end of March approached, I tore my meniscus in my knee. It was devastating to me and my parents both. After such a quick comeback, hoping, wishing, and working towards a National Championship my season ended in the blink of an eye. Hearing about another surgery wasn’t ideal, but my role, goals, and dreams were not going to change. The fire inside my belly kept firing up! No matter what I was going to give my teammates the best cheerleader, teammate and role model as possible. I went to AAU's with my team even though I wasn’t going to be able to contribute on the court; I sure was going to on the sidelines! My team finished fifth, and it was amazing.
            At Sports Performance every year, there is an end of the year party celebrating the season and our seniors. Every year awards are given out. One of them is called the C-Fed award. The C-Fed award is named after Christine Federico. She was a player and coach at Sports Performance who passed away because of cancer. In her memory this award was renamed. It is an award to honor and recognize athletes with the best work ethics, attitudes, character, commitment, dedication, and overall love for the sport of volleyball. Only one player in each age group receives this honor every year. The very moment I heard “Alexis Bass” I was in disbelief. I couldn’t believe Troy Gibbs had called my name, me, Alexis Bass to receive the C-Fed award. No words can describe how perfect that moment was for me, I was absolutely humbled. The coaches anonymously voted for me. All of my hours in the gym during my recovery had paid off. Each and every practice and tournament I attended to be my teams support system, it all paid off. My love and commitment for the greatest sport ever had shined through and that was a defining moment for me. In that moment I began to understand the journey and path God had been paving for me. In that moment, I found myself through adversity.
           Throughout my volleyball career I have learned how important it is to build myself up on character. Whether it’s on the volleyball court or off, character has always been a top priority for me. Having a good character has opened up so many doors for me. Some of those opportunities include being voted captain, being a part of best buddies, going to Washington D.C. for a leadership conference, receiving awards throughout middle school and high school, as well as gaining loads of trust from others throughout each and every different volleyball season. I take so much pride in gaining trust from others because that is a huge building block that ties a team together. It gives me the courage to continue to be the constant role model by leading my team by example as we set the highest standards for each other and ourselves. Nothing gives me more happiness than being given a leadership role or opportunity to be a captain because it drives me to push my teammates and me.
                I will make a great addition to you team because I devote just as much of my life to volleyball as I do to all of the other significant elements in my life including my family, my faith, and my academics. I hope I have made a strong impact on your consideration for your team. 
      Sincerely,
       Alexis Bass