3 days ago
Eastern NC volleyball player chosen for 14U All-American Team
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — One Eastern NC volleyball player is making her name known as a player and leader among her teammates.
Savannah Preston plays for the Coastal FCA Volleyball Club 14U National Team. 'She immediately had leadership qualities that we saw from the first practice,' Assistant Coach Hannah Albaugh said. 'She immediately had the best attitude and she was encouraging to all of her teammates and she showed that on and off of the court. She had the hardest hustle. She had the biggest heart and she continues to show that on and off the court throughout the whole season.'
While Preston serves a teammate, huddle leader and standout player, she was recently recognized and honored with a spot on the All-American Team and will get to play in Italy over the summer.
Preston was the youngest and smallest player at the Exact Sports Camp in Greensboro which led to her invitation to the team with her skills on the court standing out.
'I practiced as a setter there and I was the only eighth-grader there, so it was really nerve racking,' Preston said. 'But, I went to this program and I came back and they reviewed my footage and they were like, 'Do you want to come out with us to Italy to practice? And I was like, Heck yeah.''
Preston said while it is a daunting task competing at the world-wide level, she's ready. 'This is gonna be competitive and I am ready and I just wanna play and have great footage and wanna be there and be like 'Oh my gosh, this is something I get to experience,'' she said.
'Being able to just put herself out there, not being worried about making a mistake, not worried that she's letting anyone down, you can tell her identity is not like in her performance but in who God says she is,' Club Director Rachel Albaugh said. 'And so, she just has a ton of confidence. And so, I feel like she's grown a lot that way. She doesn't hesitate and just puts it all out there.'
Preston leads with good character and a serving heart, always looking to be uplifting to teammates or opponents on the volleyball court and serving as an inspiration to other players.
'Don't let one mistake or one game define you because I've made some pretty bad mistakes,' Preston said. 'I've also had pretty bad games. So, I think that if you want to do it and you are committed and you know you want to be playing volleyball, don't stop no matter what happens, just keep on going.'
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