PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Perrysburg volleyball continues to be a Northern Lakes League powerhouse, greatly in part to players due to players like our Athlete of the Week, senior outside hitter Sophie Burkey.
“We knew she was a natural athlete, I think we had her in the middle and setting at practice sometimes," said head coach Laura Davidson. "So for her to be a dominant outside hitter in the league her junior and senior year and us being able to do whatever we wanted with her throughout her whole history here is attest to her athleticism.”
Burkey has been on varsity all four years and currently sits at 6th overall for all-time kills. However, in her final season, her focus is not on the individual accolades.
“I really don’t care about the stats at all," Burkey said. "This is all team-oriented here. I do it for the girls on the team. I just let the stats do whatever and especially my senior year I’m just trying to enjoy every single moment of it with the girls, the coaches, this program. Just trying to make memories last a lifetime.”
The program prides itself on the full-circle effect; for example, having the varsity team host summer camps with the middle school team. In fact, that camp is where Burkey got her start in the sport.
So she takes that trait of giving back to heart and plans to continue it beyond her time as a Yellowjacket.
“I think sort of they’re deer in headlights when they’re freshmen on a varsity court," Davidson said. "But to see that go away and become the leader that she is, I think that’s the fun part of it.”
“This program holds a special place in my heart. Being here for four years and even with the junior high teams too, it’s just an amazing program and I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else," Burkey said.
That full-circle effect made its mark.
"I was led by such great leaders and they left a legacy on me and really like last year and this year, I’m just trying to become who they kind of were," Burkey said. "Just helping form and create this team and bringing everyone together so I can leave that impact on some of the younger girls like the older girls did to me when I was that age.”
WTOL 11 SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: