Alina Smith '20 Recruiting Profile

     Throughout my life, I have always been a student-athlete valuing both academics and sports. I attend a rigorous academic High School and I have demonstrated that I can excel in all of my classes while also being a starter in two varsity sports. Because of the demands I face in the classroom, I value sports as an outlet allowing me to focus my mind on something else, the athletic competition. Over the past few years of playing competitively in the US and in Shanghai China, I have become driven to take my game to the collegiate level. Academically I plan to pursue my career goal of being a Doctor. Specifically, I want to be a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. With my love for kids, passion for sports and interest in science and biology, this career screams my name.  

     Whether I am playing Volleyball or Basketball, I am able to let another side of my personality shine. On the court, I am competitive, vocal, passionate, tenacious and determined to help my team bring home a victory.  I first started playing basketball in the third grade and from then I played on the town's travel basketball team in the 4th, 5th and 6th grade, each year we went undefeated! My family moved to Shanghai China for my 7th and 8th-grade years and the only way to continue playing competitively was to play for the all-boys team. This challenged me in so many ways, emotionally and physically. I am grateful for this experience, for when I came back to the US for my Freshman year of High School, I knew I could contribute immediately to my High School teams.

     I was first exposed to my Volleyball during 6th grade at MKA. I loved it immediately.  I knew I wanted to play at MKA when we moved back to America. I initially made the JV team, but the coaches quickly moved me to the Varsity team. I became a starter after two games, replacing the senior middle. From playing Varsity volleyball,  my interest in club volleyball increased. Winter of 2017 I decided to try out for Sideout Sports, making the 16U Nationals team. I hope to excel in my first year of club by growing as an athlete both physically and mentally and achieving my goal of playing at the collegiate level.