General | 10/2/2020 9:55:03 AM
Junior Haley Unverdorben returns for her third season with the Houghton College women's volleyball team in 2020-21. Unverdorben, a setter, earned All-Empire 8 second team honors in 2019 after leading the league with 0.67 service aces per set and finishing second with 8.85 assists per set. She led the Highlanders to a 20-5 record and the No. 2 seed in the 2019 Empire 8 Tournament.
Unverdorben, a native of Cuba, NY, will serve as team captain for the Highlanders in 2020-21. She has 1,434 assists, 407 digs and 109 service aces through her first two seasons.
Haley Unverdorben - Why I Play
Institution: Houghton College
Sport/Position: Women's Volleyball/Setter
Academic Major: Inclusive Childhood Education with a Communication concentration
GPA: 3.77
Class Year: Junior
Academic Honors/Clubs/Community Service Roles: Four-time Dean’s List recipient and captain of the Houghton women's volleyball team.
What Have You Done During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Stay Active and What Are Some Positive Effects of the Pandemic You Have Experienced? Over the summer I was doing my workouts that coach gave us, but I was still bored and missing playing volleyball, so I decided to convince my dad to put a volleyball court in our front yard. I also took advantage of having a volleyball court in my yard and held volleyball lessons with high school players. I ended up having 12 players that came to my house each week for lessons. I loved helping them and seeing their growth each week, it also kept me busy and made my summer go by pretty fast.
What Role has Volleyball Played in your Personal Development? Playing volleyball has really helped me build such awesome bonds. I have met the greatest people playing the sport I love. I have made lifelong friendships.
At what age did you start playing Volleyball and what made you stay with it? Did you play any other sports growing up? I started playing volleyball when I was five with a group of girls my age and we practiced every week. When I was 8 years old, I started club volleyball and have playing ever since. Throughout my elementary years I played indoor soccer, but in 6th grade I tore my meniscus playing so I stopped playing soccer and stuck with volleyball. I stayed with volleyball because my aunt was my coach all through 7th-12th grade. She pushed me and made me the player I am today. I have played softball since I was 5 as well. I even played softball here at Houghton my freshman year.
Any Superstitions When It Comes to Pregame Rituals/Training? No, I do not. That is something I have always wanted because I felt like every good player did, but I just don’t.
Why Did You Decide to Attend Houghton? When I was looking for colleges to attend, my main focus was to find a school that was interested in having me play on their volleyball and softball teams. I also wanted to be close to home, but what mainly won me over here was the people. I love the atmosphere at Houghton. Everyone truly cares about each other.
How has Playing Collegiately and in the Empire 8 Prepared You For Life After College?
I honestly have never been a part of a Christian environment before coming to Houghton, and being on the volleyball team that incorporates those beliefs was so cool. We play for God and that is such an inspiring and awesome thing to do. I have loved playing for a purpose and being around people that love sharing their beliefs. I have grown so much as a believer and I can’t wait to see how I develop and become a better person in life because of it.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time in College: Last season, we were playing Keuka, and were leading the second set with 23 points. We were rallying the ball and I went to set my best friend Jenna Bittinger and she got an awesome kill down the line. Coach then called a timeout, which was very random when we just had one more point to get and had a big lead. We all ran over to him and he went to high five me and that was when I received my 1000th assist. I am not one to look at stats, so I had no idea I was even close to that but seeing everyone cheer for me and be genuinely happy for me was such an awesome moment.
Favorite Movie: Any movie with Adam Sandler
Favorite TV Show: Criminal Minds
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: All-American
Favorite Food: Grapes
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cotton Candy
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About You: I have a tattoo on the back of my neck that all of my cousins got because one of our cousins passed away when we were all younger.
Advice to Younger Student-Athletes on Why You Chose to Play a Collegiate Sport and Why Playing A Sport is So Important/Beneficial? Playing sports is something I love and am so grateful for. Being able to have the opportunity to play for four more years after high school is such an awesome thing. I would say to all to all of my younger student-athletes is to always work hard in everything you do. Volleyball is a stress reliever for me and is my happiness. Meet and spend time with your teammates. Be thankful for every opportunity you are given and take full advantage of it. You never know when something crazy like COVID can happen again.
The Empire 8 Conference's “Why I Play” Series features a student-athlete from one of its member institutions who discusses devotion to its respective sport.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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