DAPHNE HANZAK 2022

I’ve been an athlete since a fairly young age. I began competitive swimming at the age of 8, but started swimming several years before then. I qualified & competed in several state swim meets when I was younger. Switching from an individual sport like Swimming to a team sport like Volleyball, was very difficult. As a swimmer I only used to worry about myself, my attitude, & my progress. Now attitude & mentality on the court are very important to me. I enjoy encouraging my teammates & lifting them up. Being on a team, it’s your responsibility as a leader, to make sure your teammates are mentally alright, and that everyone shakes off that last bad play & is ready to kill the next. It isn’t just about you anymore. Being a positive force on the team is a great asset to have.

I began playing both school and travel indoor volleyball in Junior High. I am currently the middle blocker/hitter for my high school team. My club coach introduced me to beach volleyball in high school. At first I just did it to stay in shape and get better at indoor volleyball, but I am hooked on it now. My dream would be to play both beach and indoor volleyball in college. In the 2020 high school volleyball season I made the All-District Second Team and the All-District Academic Team.

I also know the importance of being conditioned & staying in shape. When it comes to a sport like Volleyball that includes fast-paced rallies, quick pivoting, & for me, constant jumping. I know stamina plays a large role in how well I perform. I actually enjoy working out. It doesn’t feel like work or something I “have” to do. During the COVID pandemic while I couldn’t attend school or summer workouts, I worked out daily most weeks on my own using Beachbody programs.

INDOOR HIGH SCHOOL STATS

Attack Kills72
Kills/Game7.2
Defense
Solo Blocks25
Total Blocks34
Blocks/Game3.4
Digs23
Digs/Game2.3
Serving
Aces3
Aces/Game0.3
Games Played10

I will be graduating from Santa Gertrudis High School in 2022. Currently I have a 3.8 GPA in high school, and a 4.0 GPA in my dual enrollment courses at Texas A&M University Kingsville. I took one DE course each semester my freshman and sophomore years in H.S., and I’m taking two DE courses each semester my junior year. My goal is to have as much of my core courses out of the way by the time I graduate high school so in college I can focus on my major courses and volleyball.

I would like to attend a university where I can play both beach and indoor volleyball, and I would like to major in Veterinary Technology or something closely related. My collegiate goals include keeping a 3.5, or higher, GPA, making the dean’s list each semester, completing an internship, finding a well-paying job, creating a strong resume, & learning to budget money wisely. I’m very hardworking & persistent on & off the court. No matter what the case is I’ll try my hardest & do my best. Learning new things can be stressful for me but that pushes me even more to accomplish that goal.