|
Name: Tommy Howell High School: Upper St. Clair Grade: 12 Position: Middle Hitter Background Info: This will be Howell's first year as a full time starter. He did see significant playing time as a junior, splitting duties with two other senior middle hitters. At the end of last year, he was named one of the captains by the outgoing seniors. Aside from volleyball, he excels in the classroom. His accolades include: 1. Completion of the Middle Years Baccalaureate Program, 2. High Honor Roll sophomore and junior year, and 3. Finalist for sophomore student of the year. He is looking to attend Westminster College next fall, majoring in math with a minor in sports management. Quotes from Upper St. Clair coach Josh Ficorilli: "Tommy started playing volleyball in his sophomore year. He was very raw but very eager to get better. With a steeper learning curve than those players who start playing volleyball as freshmen, or sooner, he embraced the challenge and worked harder than almost anyone to catch up. He would continually asked questions about how he could improve aspects of his game to help the team. Between every game and every time he comes off the court, he goes to a coach to talk about what he sees and gets input. What he may lack as a vocal leader, he more than makes up for with his work ethic and team-first mentality. He may not be the flashiest hitter in the section, or even on the team, but he is just so quietly steady. I just wish we would have had him all four years." |