TicketsCINCINNATI - Cincinnati volleyball freshman middle blocker Abby Walker has always had the drive to become the best volleyball player she could be, figuratively and literally.
Walker didn't start playing volleyball competitively until high school, but you would never notice that on the court. She had to drive two hours to the city of Cleveland to join AVC Volleyball and improve her game. Walker, and head coach Molly Alvey, knew AVC would make her into a complete player.
"I knew it was a good club and I would be getting the best training," said Walker. "That really helped because she (Alvey) knew I had potential and built me into the player I am today"
Walker arrived at AVC with the confidence in her ability to succeed. Many of the players at AVC had been playing volleyball most of their lives, but not for Walker. She was also a 2x Varsity letterman in Indoor and Outdoor track and field, earned the OSHAA scholar athlete award, Presidents award, Don L McKendry Academic gold award, and Distinguished Athlete Award. She knew her athletic background would help her excel on the floor, just like everywhere else.
"When I went there, all the girls had been playing since they were eight years old and I had to take a little bit of time to catch up, but knowing that I am as good as these girls and knowing that I am going to be the best player I can be," said Walker.
Having instilled that confidence in a freshman can make them a better player when they arrive on campus. Walker, traveling far from home, used that confidence in one of the biggest moves of her life to help the transition.
"Obviously not being at home and not having the same support system - I talked to my mom a lot, and not being able to see any of my siblings is hard, but my roommates have become really good friends that I have become very close with," she said.
Hailing from a small town, Walker said all the people are one of the biggest changes since moving.
"It is a whole different environment that took a little while to get used to," she said. "I am not used to being right outside the city with so many people because there weren't many people in my town - It has been a whole new experience."
Walker noted the similarities between the two coaching staffs at AVC and Cincinnati and how that made the transition successful to UC and increased opportunities on the floor.
"There were a lot of different coaches there that played different roles in my development and it reminds me here," she said.
Walker has had that opportunity to make an impact for the Bearcats and she has not passed it up. Walker already has 233 kills, 28 service aces and 60 total blocks on the season and was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 4) and to the weekly honor roll twice (Sept. 27 and Nov. 1).
"Freshman year is like everything, it is a gift, you don't expect to be in and playing as much as I have," says Walker. "Just to be doing this even for the seniors, just to play as hard as I can for the seniors."
Making this last season memorable for the seniors is motivation for Walker. She noted senior teammates Hannah Bollinger and Maria Mallon's impact on and off the court on the team and her, personally.
"Hannah is one of the best leaders and Maria on the court, whatever roles they are in, they show leadership and support - they help me become a better person, better player, better teammate."
Walker said she is incredibly grateful for the team and the relationships she has been able to form so far away from her support system of her family.
"I don't think I have been as close with a team as I am here, spending every day with each other," she said. "It's not like you are forced to become friends, we are choosing to become closer."
Walker has big expectations for her career at UC, she wants to win. The way the team has gelled this season she said is a big reason she believes in this group.
"I think in the years to come, we have the opportunities to win our conference, make it to the NCAA tournament and I truly think we can do it and I am excited to have those opportunities."
In the time being,Walker is trying to model her game around this year's seniors by being a better leader and teammate.
"I want to be a better teammate and a better leader because this is my volleyball career and I want to give it all these four years."
The Bearcats are on the road this weekend, with a match at Tulane on Friday at 7 pm and at Houston on Sunday at 1.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Walker didn't start playing volleyball competitively until high school, but you would never notice that on the court. She had to drive two hours to the city of Cleveland to join AVC Volleyball and improve her game. Walker, and head coach Molly Alvey, knew AVC would make her into a complete player.
"I knew it was a good club and I would be getting the best training," said Walker. "That really helped because she (Alvey) knew I had potential and built me into the player I am today"
Abby Walker! This place is fired up!
— Cincinnati VBall (@GoBearcatsVB) October 3, 2021
Set 3: Cincinnati 19, SMU 20 pic.twitter.com/rFpVzuqr01
Walker arrived at AVC with the confidence in her ability to succeed. Many of the players at AVC had been playing volleyball most of their lives, but not for Walker. She was also a 2x Varsity letterman in Indoor and Outdoor track and field, earned the OSHAA scholar athlete award, Presidents award, Don L McKendry Academic gold award, and Distinguished Athlete Award. She knew her athletic background would help her excel on the floor, just like everywhere else.
"When I went there, all the girls had been playing since they were eight years old and I had to take a little bit of time to catch up, but knowing that I am as good as these girls and knowing that I am going to be the best player I can be," said Walker.
Having instilled that confidence in a freshman can make them a better player when they arrive on campus. Walker, traveling far from home, used that confidence in one of the biggest moves of her life to help the transition.
"Obviously not being at home and not having the same support system - I talked to my mom a lot, and not being able to see any of my siblings is hard, but my roommates have become really good friends that I have become very close with," she said.
Hailing from a small town, Walker said all the people are one of the biggest changes since moving.
"It is a whole different environment that took a little while to get used to," she said. "I am not used to being right outside the city with so many people because there weren't many people in my town - It has been a whole new experience."
Walker noted the similarities between the two coaching staffs at AVC and Cincinnati and how that made the transition successful to UC and increased opportunities on the floor.
"There were a lot of different coaches there that played different roles in my development and it reminds me here," she said.
Walker has had that opportunity to make an impact for the Bearcats and she has not passed it up. Walker already has 233 kills, 28 service aces and 60 total blocks on the season and was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 4) and to the weekly honor roll twice (Sept. 27 and Nov. 1).
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"Freshman year is like everything, it is a gift, you don't expect to be in and playing as much as I have," says Walker. "Just to be doing this even for the seniors, just to play as hard as I can for the seniors."
Making this last season memorable for the seniors is motivation for Walker. She noted senior teammates Hannah Bollinger and Maria Mallon's impact on and off the court on the team and her, personally.
"Hannah is one of the best leaders and Maria on the court, whatever roles they are in, they show leadership and support - they help me become a better person, better player, better teammate."
Walker said she is incredibly grateful for the team and the relationships she has been able to form so far away from her support system of her family.
"I don't think I have been as close with a team as I am here, spending every day with each other," she said. "It's not like you are forced to become friends, we are choosing to become closer."
Walker has big expectations for her career at UC, she wants to win. The way the team has gelled this season she said is a big reason she believes in this group.
"I think in the years to come, we have the opportunities to win our conference, make it to the NCAA tournament and I truly think we can do it and I am excited to have those opportunities."
In the time being,Walker is trying to model her game around this year's seniors by being a better leader and teammate.
"I want to be a better teammate and a better leader because this is my volleyball career and I want to give it all these four years."
The Bearcats are on the road this weekend, with a match at Tulane on Friday at 7 pm and at Houston on Sunday at 1.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.