Ellie Popelka '17 Recruiting Profile

 I am a team player!! I strive to give my teammates and coach 100%. I know that I have a lot more to learn and I am eager to improve. I am fair with my teammates and like to encourage them verses tearing down. I perform well under pressure. I am a leader on the court. I understand volleyball very well. I am open to instruction and will often ask how I can improve. I fully understand that I represent my team on and off the court.  I know that I am a reflection of my club and team and my school I have devoted the last six years to volleyball because I love the game and want to be the best player that I can be. I am very competitive and don't like to miss a point on the court. I am resilient.  After missing seven games of the 2014 high school season due to a benign tumor in my skull I was determined to get back on the court. Three weeks after major surgery to remove the tumor and have a metal plate put in my skull, I returned to the court and led my team to the state semi finals. I was named All State first team and received Prep Volleyball's Shay Award for courage. I am focused. Since my recent medical scare I see things very differently than most sixteen year olds. I take nothing for granted anymore. I am incredibly grateful for all that I have and my goals are more important than ever. I appreciate my parents, coaches, team and teachers more than ever. They all help me to become the best person, athlete and student that I can be. My goals for college are to play for a team where I can make an impact on the court and in the classroom.

 I am an honor student and was selected by my teachers to participate in the Johns Hopkins Talent search. I like to be challenged academically. I understand how important it is to maintain a strong GPA and I plan to continue to work hard to do that. I take advanced classes. As an 8th grader I completed four high school credited courses with a 4.0. I am now one semester ahead in my junior year of high school. .  My long term academic goals are to major in psychology and go on to get my PhD and counsel critically and terminally ill children and their parents.