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I started playing volleyball in Year 7 in an after school club. Through recommendation by the coach I then joined my local Volleyball Club in Melksham and started training/ playing volleyball up to 3 times a week. My club coach recognised potential in me and I was put forward to attend trials for the South West U15 squad where I competed at this level for 2 years aged 12 and 13 years winning the inter-regional championships both years. Achieving early success like this was a real surprise to me and I felt very proud. Aged 13 years I was then lucky enough to be selected to represent England cadets at several international tournaments and also attended trials for the England Junior U19s Squad. Up until then all my training and support had been funded by my parents, but now as an England player I am eligible to apply for Sport England funding every year helping to fund my training, competition, travelling and accommodation costs. I have also been fortunate enough in receiving a couple of local grants from the Rotary Club and through the Sporting Success People of Wiltshire Award. From the age of 16 years I was playing volleyball most days, including training with the performance squad at the University of Bath 3 days a week, my local club in Melksham once a week, in Coventry once a week to train with my National League Team and spent most weekends competing all over the country. I was doing all of this whilst doing my A Levels! Being able to train with all these different teams and having lots of support really allowed me to progress to the level I am today. From the age of 18 years I was part of the England Junior Squad and was invited to train with the England Senior Team in order to progress my volleyball skills and to provide me with the experience I needed at that higher level. At the European Championships I unfortunately picked up a serious injury which meant I could not play for one year. This left me feeling down and very frustrated. Throughout my injury I was very lucky in receiving lots of support through Team Bath & TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) such as mentoring, nutrition, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, specific strength and conditioning and a full rehabilitation programme including x-rays and MRI scans. After I was fully recovered from my injury I was invited to join the Foundation Degree in Sports Performance alongside the Volleyball full time training programme at the University of Bath. Here I receive TASS funding as well as a full Teambath Scholarship. Having this funding allows me to receive all my coaching, physiotherapy treatment, nutrition advice, psychology training, strength and conditioning training and free use of all facilities. Currently I have predominantly being playing beach volleyball, but still travel to London several times a week to train and play indoors. Over the past couple of years I have travelled to countries such as New Zealand, India, Egypt, Turkey & Russia to compete for Great Britain in beach volleyball. I am currently ranked number 1 in Great Britain and 13 in Europe for my age group. Through my player pathway it has been so important to me to have the support and direction from those around me, without them I would not be where I am today and I am very grateful of that. Not only have I been training and competing over the last few years but I have also completed my Level 1 and 2 coaching qualifications, and I am a qualified beach referee. I thoroughly enjoy coaching volleyball and love that I can give something back to the sport in which has helped me get to where I am today.
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