By: Lauren Mitchell, Co-Editor-in-Chief
“I tell people this all the time, I love volleyball because the play ends with someone smacking the ball or someone diving on the floor, that is what makes it so fun.”-Devin Hill
Senior Devin Hill, leader, and captain of the River Hill varsity volleyball team, recently achieved her lifelong dream of committing to Salisbury University to play volleyball. Devin said that she, “knew I wanted to play volleyball in college my entire life, and I knew I wanted to play in Maryland.”
Devin is known as a strong volleyball player and a highly respected friend and classmate. Her Co-Captain Sara Jain said that Devin, “is an amazing player and she encourages everyone around her to give their all by giving her all at every moment.”
Devin’s close friend Grant Owens was excited to comment on how Devin has grown throughout her River Hill volleyball experience. He said that “Devin was discouraged when she didn’t make varsity freshman year. This setback lit a fire under her to always play her hardest and to always reaffirm her spot. I love Devin because she’s caring. There’s nothing artificial about how she cares and she never expects anything in return.”
Devin’s journey began as she, “started playing when I was four because my parents both played and my mom played Division 1 volleyball in college.” Devin grew up with an intense adoration for volleyball, always admiring the teamwork and fast plays that went into the sport. At the age of 11, Devin began playing for the Maryland Juniors Volleyball Club on their top team and still plays for them today.
When asked about the recruiting process, Devin explained how she always checked what colleges came to her tournaments, and when, “Salisbury came to watch me, they kept coming to watch me.” Devin said that “I would’ve started my recruiting process at 15 but I could not play club that year since I blew out my ankle.”
Devin’s injury has been a major inconvenience throughout her volleyball experience, as she could not play Sophomore year because of it. Setbacks like this motivate Devin to try even harder. Devin, “realized a lot of things this year because I had not played in so long and I had to start over. Every time you touch the ball or come to practice, giving it your 100% effort is so important. You play how you practice.”
When Devin was asked to verbally commit to Salisbury, she, “immediately said yes because I knew I wanted to go to the school. I love the location, the cost is affordable, and I think the team is really competitive. I decided before I got to the camp that if he asked me to be on the team I would say yes.”
Devin is a huge competitor for River Hill, just being named first team all-county for Howard County this past season. Her teammate, Junior Jasmine Frey, said, “it’s been amazing playing next to her the past two years and watching her on varsity my freshman year. As i’ve told her myself, I don’t know River Hill volleyball without Devin Hill in it and it’ll be a hard adjustment next year when she won’t be here with us physically.” She always described Devin as, “the definition of a leader.”
This is a big deal for the River Hill community and especially Devin’s family. After verbally committing, Devin said that, “Right when I got in the car, I tricked them (her parents) and said that the coach did not want me. I then said ‘Sike! I am verbally committed to Salisbury!’ When I got my official commitment letter my mom cried; it was really exciting.”
At signing day, “It was funny because I didn’t even know it was happening until the day before. It was just me and Jenna Kenyon. A lot of people showed up and I thought that was really cool. I have been dreaming of signing day ever since I was little.” Devin is another example of the amazing things that River Hill students can achieve. GO HAWKS!