Welcome to SZN Opener, the dynamic podcast collection that spotlights Black school athletes, exploring their triumphs and challenges alongside their sports activities journeys.
Episode 4 spotlights Marianna Singletary, a drive in ladies’s volleyball representing the College of Texas. The redshirt sophomore sat down with SZN Opener host Rodney Rikai to speak about enjoying with the Texas Longhorns and the way sitting out for a 12 months helped her develop as an athlete.
Being redshirted was a ‘studying expertise.’
The embellished center blocker mirrored on the method of being redshirted. A “redshirt” athlete sits out a season for quite a lot of causes. In Singletary’s case, it was a possibility to give attention to coaching and enhancing her recreation whereas she sat out of gameplay throughout her first 12 months at Texas. “It’s sort of a essential step,” she advised Rikai. “It means that you can be taught extra.”
The Charleston native arrived on the Division I powerhouse with quite a few accolades already below her belt. A graduate of the celebrated Porter-Gaud College, the four-year starter was named South Carolina’s 2022 Gatorade Volleyball Participant of the 12 months, 2019 SCISA Participant of the 12 months, and was a 2021 first crew Below Armour All-American, to call a number of.
Given Singletary’s lengthy checklist of accomplishments, it wasn’t simple for the athlete to take a seat on the sidelines throughout her freshman 12 months as a Longhorn. “Within the second it was arduous as a result of, you already know, I’m coming off of highschool, I’ve all these accolades, after which I’m going to college and get redshirted.”
“It was an enormous rising second for me … maturing and with the ability to see the larger image,” she mentioned. “In hindsight, I’m so grateful for it as a result of it allowed me to be taught below 4 insane All-American center blockers and I’m a lot wiser for that.”
The Texas athlete’s checklist of accolades retains on rising.
Singletary lastly received to play alongside her teammates in her sophomore 12 months as a “redshirt freshman.” That season, the Longhorns gained their second-consecutive nationwide NCAA championship.
Throughout her newest 2024 season, Singletary was twice named SEC Participant of the Week. She additionally earned the excellence of Defensive Participant of the Week thrice in a row.
Singletary is happy about the way forward for volleyball.
As volleyball good points recognition, pleasure is constructing round new skilled leagues just like the Professional Volleyball Federation and League One Volleyball (LOVB) that are shaping the way forward for the game within the U.S. “Now you’re in a position to have sold-out crowds for volleyball video games and that’s large,” mentioned Singletary.
For elite American gamers, it’s an opportunity to play nearer to house as an alternative of touring overseas to proceed their careers. “It’s actually thrilling,” mentioned Singletary. “It’s good to know you could graduate school and nonetheless play the game that you just love someplace that’s acquainted to you, and your loved ones can come see you.”
“I’m a student-athlete ambassador for LOVB and that’s one other massive league to look out for,” she mentioned. “There’s a lot happening across the sport of volleyball.”
Catch the complete dialog with Marianna Singletary above. Take heed to this episode of SZN Opener on the City One Podcast Community or your favourite podcast streaming platform. Or take a look at the visible podcast on the Cassius Life YouTube channel.
In regards to the ‘SZN Opener’ podcast
SZN Opener returns with brand-new episodes for season 3, showcasing the brightest up-and-coming Black scholar athletes in school sports activities right this moment. Hosted by dynamic on-air persona Rodney Rikai, this podcast options in-depth interviews with athletes sharing their tales of arduous work, character, and excellence each on and off the enjoying subject. As they navigate demanding schedules and plan for careers past commencement, these school athletes present focus and dedication in each facet of their lives. Tune in to SZN Opener and uncover extra on CassiusLife.com.
