What is your name?
Lara DeFreitas
What sport do you play?
Volleyball
What is your number on the field?
1
What position do you play?
I primarily play DS/L but have practice playing other positions.
How long have you played your sport?
6 years
What is your favorite memory of playing your sport? Why?
My favorite memory would have to be from back in middle school when our coach always made sure we had fun, to such an extent to where after every point when we’d meet in the middle, all the girls would yell something along the lines of “Goldfish” or “Trolli”.
What are your plans for after high school?
Continue to play volleyball at the collegiate level while getting my undergrad degree in Pre-Dentistry.
Do you have any sport idols? How did they influence you?
Elena Scott, Libero from Louisville University and Lexi Rodriguez, Libero from Nebraska University. They both influence me to be a better player and go after everything.
How did you start playing your sport?
When I was younger I had watched my sister attend open gyms and my dad would play at home with her and it made me want to try it and join the team in 7th grade.
What advice would you give someone just starting your sport? Why?
Get as many touches as possible, nobody starts being the best, they spend time outside of practice bettering themselves everyday.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through playing your sport?
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned through playing volleyball is to never give up, no matter what.
What is your greatest accomplishment outside of sports?
Outside of sports I would say my greatest accomplishment is my academics.
Have you passed up any opportunities that you regret? What were they? What would you change?
I wish I had practiced more when I was younger, I think that if I practiced more that I’d be a much more advanced player than I am today.
How do you think your our graduating class will change the world?
The volleyball seniors specifically, I think, will leave an impact for the younger girls. All of us seniors have been playing together since about the 7th grade. We’ve all grown as players and people within our team.
What are the reasons you like being part of a team sport?
One of the three reasons I like being part of a team sport is because I love playing the game that I love with my best friends. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the girls I met throughout my entire volleyball career. The second reason I love playing a team sport is because it helps to make you feel like you have a purpose. When you’re on the court, of course, your purpose is to win. Making sure you show up for your teammates also gives you another sense of purpose in the game.
How does being an athlete make you a better person? Why?
Being an athlete makes me a better person because it helps with social skills as well as teaching what being a teammate is like. There are very few things in life that you get to do alone so I think that playing a team sport helps you to learn how to utilize these social skills and ultimately make you a better person.
Do you think attitude is a factor in winning? Why?
Yes, I do think that attitude plays a factor when it comes to winning or losing. When a team or specific player has a good attitude about the game and is optimistic about it, in my experience, the game ends up being a lot more fun to play in and it’s more likely to win the game. In contrast, when a team/ player has a negative attitude and is pessimistic about a game, they end up playing a lot worse and are more likely to lose the game.
How do athletics make you a better student?
Athletics makes me a better student because it teaches me how to manage everything that I have to do daily. This helps me because in college I’ll be able to manage my tasks once they start to pile up.