Maria Icaza

• Friendly
• Humble
• Hardworking
• Funny
• Supportive

I tend to take lead in a team. I am able to collaborate and work well with others. I always hear everyone’s ideas out and find the best possible way to incorporate them into the outcome. On a volleyball team one of the most crucial parts of that team is being able to work as a unit, especially on the court. All players have to trust each other and have to be able to communicate with each other. You’ll most frequently see me leading my team by communication. On the court I take up space not just physically but verbally too. I am always calling and reading where the hit will go, I am doing the same for serves, and I always call my ball. Being able to communicate with my team allows us to trust each other and work together on the court.

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Outside of volleyball I like to engage in the arts and travel. Prior to playing volleyball I danced for 9 years. I began dancing at the young age of 3 and fell in love with it. Even as a little girl I always appreciated the beauty of dance as a form of expression. To me dance has always been a form of self expression. I believe that dance not only entertains oneself but also allows us to express our emotions through body movement. Though I don’t dance anymore I am still able to express myself through volleyball. Aside from dance I am very interested in traveling. Similar to dance I’ve been traveling since I was a little girl. I’ve been to many countries and cities around the world for example Paris, Panama (which is where I’m from), London, Switzerland, and Germany. Those are just a few of my favorites. It’s always been very important to me that we diversify our cultural knowledge and immerse ourselves in as many cultures as we can, I even started a club at my school called Global flavors where we try foods from different cultures and countries. Being able to travel allows me to immerse myself in different cultures.

I have always looked up to Lexi Rodriguez. She plays the same position as me and is an outstanding Libero. Lexi has been someone I idolize because of her resilience and determination for the sport of volleyball. Though she is considered to be way too short to play at such an elite level, she never let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She never let an outsiders opinion influence her goals or what she could achieve. She of course proved everyone wrong and was recruited to one of the top volleyball programs in the US. Her constant drive on and off the court has inspired me. As an undersized player myself Lexi is a constant reminder that I can achieve anything regardless of what others might think and to never let an external opinion define me.

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I would like to study Psychology and Pre-law as I’d like to go to law school to become a lawyer in forensic psychology.

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