Sophia Maqueira '20 Recruiting Profile

Joining, Sunshine Volleyball, the highly competitive and high profile club last year was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my volleyball career. I joined a team of girls who had played together for the past 3 years and it was initially intimidating when I walked on the court for tryouts. I came from another volleyball club where I was the star of the team and very confident in my skills.  Suddenly, I was surrounded by many talented girls who appeared to be as good or better than I was. I was thrilled to make the team and knew if I wanted to be in the starting lineup I was going to have to show my coaches and teammates just what I was capable of. 

Within the first two tournaments of the season I earned a spot as the starting outside despite not being one of the tallest girls on the team.  I was the only player who consistently remained on the court throughout the matches. I helped my team earn a bid for the Junior Nationals in our first qualifier, an accomplishment that I am very proud of.  Being a member of this Sunshine team has taught me how to overcome my insecurities surrounding my height and helped me believe that through dedication and hard work, I have the potential to accomplish anything. This experience also gave me the confidence to play on my high school’s varsity team in summer league, earning me a spot on the varsity team as a freshman. My coaches have often told me my ability to bring a sense of calmness and leadership on the court are part of what make me a valuable member of any team.