It’s hard in the beginning. One season, you might be in the back of the pack, but you know, it gets easier. You get faster, you get stronger, if you keep showing up.”
To Alvarez, Ella embodies the essence of the Outrigger spirit. Her dedication to the program is unmistakable, as seen through her commitment to remaining involved and supporting younger play- ers. “One specific memory I have is my first practice at Outrigger,” Ella recalls. “I remember being really scared because I was playing with the big girls, but I just remember all of them being very friendly and encouraging. I strive to be as welcoming and supportive as they were to me.” This attitude speaks volumes about Ella’s character and her role within the Outrigger community.
As Ella prepares to embark on her collegiate journey, she plans to pursue a degree in business administration with a minor in sports management. While she aims to strike a balance between academ- ics and athletics, she approaches this new chapter with a positive mindset, refraining from setting expectations as she joins a sizable team. “Just know- ing that I’m going to play in college next year makes all the hard practices and workouts worth it,” Ella says. However, what excites her most is the prospect of facing new competition. “Hawaii’s a really small island, and that’s great for building a sense of com- munity, but we really just play against the same girls. Going to the mainland and getting to play against dierent colleges and people across the country is definitely something I’m looking forward to.” “It’s a very competitive program,” Alvarez says about beach volleyball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “Todd is one of the best coaches in the world, and he was one of the best players in the world, so to be able to play for him is kind of a dream come true for Ella.” While Ella remains uncertain about her future beyond collegiate beach volleyball, she is grateful for the chance to follow her passion. “I really just owe everything to my family. I want to work hard to make them proud and to not let myself down,” she says. As both Ella and Sabrina prepare to challenge themselves in their new environments, Sabrina oers words of wisdom for future generations of young athletes. She emphasizes the importance of showing up consistently, despite the initial di©- culties. “It’s hard in the beginning. One season, you might be in the back of the pack, but you know, it gets easier. You get faster, you get stronger, if you keep showing up,” she advises. “If you want to be in that boat, you gotta show up for your teammates.”
Though Ella cherishes her me at OCC, she’s excited to face new compeon at the collegiate level.
22
AMA | July / august 2024
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator