What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “varsity sport?” Do you know anyone who plays a varsity sport? What about freshmen who play a varsity sport?

Vanessa Polk is one of the few freshmen whose skills qualified her to be on the varsity volleyball team. Vanessa began playing volleyball at around the age of 7 or 8 and has excelled ever since.  

“My parents, teammates and coaches have all helped me get to where I am today,” she says. They have certainly gotten her to a good place.

As of October 10th, she leads the team with 47 aces, 117 points, and has more blocks than the rest of the team combined, according to stats accumulated by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Some of her many talents include jump-serving and hitting hard in the front row, as well as passing.

As a freshman, it’s probably hard being one of the younger players, and it must be nerve-wracking to a degree. But the poise she displays has come from many hours practicing when she was younger, including playing at Nationals, which she says is her favorite volleyball experience.

But even so, friends and peers are impressed with her abilities and confidence on the court. Vanessa says the comradery on the team has allowed her to excel. When asked, she said that she  “loves everyone on the team and they are truly my best friends.”

Her abilities are especially impressive because varsity sports are very advanced and competitive and don’t always guarantee playing time.  But Vanessa’s exceptional performance so far allows her to play more on the court. It is also very time consuming and she admits that “balancing schoolwork and [volleyball] can be hard, but it’s all about good time management.” If you come to support her team at one of the Varsity Volleyball games, you’ll be able to see Vanessa and her skills for yourself.