Natalie Wolikow is a senior at Struthers High School. She has been playing volleyball for 4 years. Wolikow is an intelligent, outgoing, and kind person who is determined to go after what she wants.
The student athlete started playing volleyball because her friends played in seventh grade and she wanted to experience being on a team with them.
Students that play sports in high school typically continue them in college. This athlete is set on doing something bigger for herself in college.
“I don’t plan on playing volleyball in college, as I’ve been playing four sports my whole life and feel college is my time to step away from them. I want to really focus on moving towards my career in college,” says Wolikow.
The National Honor Society student is a setter on the varsity volleyball team. She has always been a setter and enjoys it.
There are many positions in volleyball, many players don’t always get lucky enough to get the position they want or even keep it throughout their whole career.
“Yes, I love being a setter. I really enjoy directing the offense and tricking the other team by running all different kinds of sets to my hitters. Developing hitter-setter connections is the best and the most satisfying part of volleyball, especially when the hitter gets a kill. Setting can be very stressful because you are running the offense and you will touch the ball every play, and you have to be very close to perfect when being a setter; however, it is very worth it,” says Wolikow.
The athlete loves this sport because of the friendships she’s made within the past few years. Without this sport, she wouldn’t have been able to grow so close to her best friends.
Wolikow realizes that sports always go quicker when you’re having fun, you should always savor each day even when some days are tough. You always have a group supporting you and it’s someone to run to when things get hard.
“It is over before you know it so enjoy every single moment, even the hard practices; always remember your team and you are going through every good and bad moment together, so cherish it while you have it,” says Wolikow.
