Although freshman Stephanie Campbell only started volleyball to fill in a missing spot on a recreational volleyball team, she has taken volleyball to a whole new personal level.

She started on the recreational team when she was in 5th grade, and by 6th grade was playing club volleyball for Rockwood Thunder. 

She made Lafayette’s varsity volleyball this year, and much of her life revolves around volleyball now.

“In fall I spend 15 hours and week and in the spring I spend around anywhere between 14-20 hours depending on if I have a two-day tournament or one day. But that’s just my formal training. I also spend around two to three more hours a week working out and doing exercises to keep my shoulder and other joints in shape,” Campbell said.

Recently, she made the United States Continental team.  She went to a qualifier for the 15 and 16 year-old age group, and they evaluated her performance and put her on the third best team in the United States, the Continental team.

Campbell has reason to believe she will go on to play volleyball in college and possibly beyond.  She is already receiving college letters from some of the top volleyball programs in the country.

Campbell said, “I have gotten letters from U of Illinois, LSU, Penn State (who won the national title this year), Wichita State, Southern Illinois University, SLU, U of Wyoming and Iowa State. Well ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to go to U of I because that’s where my parents went but I’m still open to options, I mean I’m not committed yet or anything.”

She has big hopes for volleyball when she graduates from Lafayette.

“I hope to play District 1 in college, preferably for U of I, and maybe go to the Olympics,” she said.