Shannon KeoughAt 6 feet 2 inches, Stephanie Recklau seems like the typical athlete who was born and raised to play volleyball.
However, this is not the case for Recklau, junior pre-med major.
“My family wasn’t really into sports when I was growing up,” Recklau said. Her younger brother was interested in computers, while her sister was interested in art.
In middle school Recklau played basketball, softball and soccer.
In high school she continued her basketball career, but began playing volleyball.
“I loved volleyball, but I didn’t think I’d be good enough to play in college,” Recklau said.
To her surprise, a college volleyball scout, who was originally looking at someone else, approached her with an offer to play for Cabrini. Recklau was taken back by the offer but accepted with ease, extending her volleyball career into college.
It didn’t take long for Recklau’s skill and dominance on the court to be noticed.
She was named “Rookie of the Year” as a freshman in the Colonial States Athletic Conference and in the same year, she was ranked the 39th best player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The country music fan from Holland, Pa., who has hopes of becoming a doctor one day, continues to dominate as a junior as well.
Recklau has been announced as the player with the fifth highest hitting percentage in NCAA, as well as the 50 best player in blocking.
Recklau didnt hesitate before saying, “My team is awesome and I couldn’t have done any of this without them.”
“This is a team sport and these girls really show how teamwork pays off. That is a great lesson for anybody to learn,” Mary Recklau, mother of Stephanie, said.
Cabrini, as a team, is 11 in hitting and 33 in blocking according to the NCAA. These statistics show that the Cabrini volleyball team, which is now 21-6, is hardworking.
The team is also 9-0 in the CSAC and plans on making a run in the playoffs.
The women’s volleyball team is currently approaching the end of a well-played season and Recklau can’t help but be a little sad that these upcoming games will be the last she plays with her senior teammates.
“It’s really upsetting that the three seniors are leaving, not only because they are great teammates, but because they are also three of my best friends,” Recklau said.”I know that we will continue to stay in touch, but the team dynamic will not be the same without them. Right now, we are really focused on the end of the season and hopefully coming home with a CSAC league win.”
