Senior Mollie White has recently announced her commitment to Sewanee: The University of the South to play collegiate volleyball. White committed as both a setter and right-side hitter and is the only senior so far from LFHS to commit to a college for volleyball this year.
White began playing volleyball in 5th grade. For White, volleyball runs in the family; both of her parents, and many of her cousins play the sport, so it was only natural for her to try it. However, she quickly realized that she had a passion of her own for volleyball, and has been playing ever since. Having so many relatives play the same sport has also added an element of competition to the sport that has motivated White to work hard and go the extra mile- especially in terms of training.
White currently plays both high school and club volleyball. She has played for two years on the varsity team and seven years on a club team as both a setter and a right-side hitter. Standing at 5 ’10 and being left-handed, Mollie is naturally at an advantage over her competitors at the net due to her ability to tip the ball with ease and strength using her left hand. This, paired with her high vertical and strong arm, is a dangerous combination that makes her a versatile and dynamic player on the court. Her strengths in two different positions have made White a highly valuable player, who seldom comes off the court. In fact, White was awarded MVP during the 2023-24 high school season here at LFHS.
“Mollie is an amazing friend and supporter. She always helps everyone zone in on the volleyball court, while still having fun!” said varsity teammate Lily Smith.
The process of getting recruited has not been easy for White. Throughout her recruitment process, she talked to many different schools, and it was difficult to ensure she kept in constant contact with each.
“It was hard having to juggle all of the schools at once, and making sure that you are giving each school the same amount of attention,” said White.
The recruitment process also impeded other aspects of White’s life. She would often have to miss school and volleyball practice to attend college visits and speak with coaches, missing important events both in the classroom and on the court.
White soon realized that the University of the South was the school for her. She recalls the welcoming team she was introduced to and the promising program they had to offer that drew her to the school. This paired with a beautiful campus located in Tennessee (just outside of Chattanooga) only further convinced her that this could be her home.
“I just really fell in love with the school right when I got onto campus,” said White.
White still has one more season of club volleyball before she starts her college career, and she is determined to give her team her best effort. Her season will likely end with Nationals in Orlando next July, and she and her coaches and teammates are excited to see what she can accomplish both this upcoming season and beyond through her collegiate career.
“Her ability to get the team rallies behind her and get them energized for the game is something every team needs,” said Varsity volleyball coach Leah Pranke. “I know that when she goes off to college she will be a force to be reckoned with.”
