Season: 2020

Sydney Downing

Sydney’s Volleyball Profile

  • High School: Sumner High School
  • Hometown: Sumner, WA
  • University Committed: Linfield University
  • Degree Pursuing: Exercise Science with a Pre-Med Focus

Volleyball Accomplishments:

  • Four Year Varsity Player
  • Sumner High School Program MVP
  • 2 Year Captain
  • All League Honorable Mention (2021)

Non-Volleyball Accomplishments:

  • 100+ Community Service Hours
  • Student of the Year Award (2018)
  • National Honors Society
  • Member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
  • Honor Roll (Every Semester SHS)
  • Dean’s List (Green River College)
  • Running Start Student

My Favorites:

  • Memorable Moments:  Team rooms, team bonding at Ruston, spending time with the team at travel tournaments, staying late after practice and talking in the parking lot, and when we forked and coned Kyla and Katlyn’s house.
  • Inspirational Quote: You always wonder what you could have done differently, but there is always the healthier part that says you integrate it and you get on. You never get over it, you just get used to it. You get calloused a little bit harder maybe, but take these tragic things and turn them into something meaningful and worthy of the loss. – Mark Ruffalo
  • Motivational Song: Lean on Me – Bill Withers
  • Favorite color: Aqua

I’m inspired by my papa. Growing up, he never swore, he never yelled, and he never had a bad thing to say about anything or anyone. After he suffered a stroke and suffered complete right side paralysis, he never stopped working to get better for himself and for his family. As hard of a situation he is faced with everyday, he continues to never complain and look for the positives in every aspect of his life.

Something most people don’t know about me is the blue spot on my left arm is a birthmark, not a bruise.

In five (5) years I will most likely be in a doctoral or graduate program.

Some advice I’d give to younger players is understand that you are not perfect. Have confidence in yourself and put faith into the training you have put hard work into.

Thank you to My Parents!

Gabrielle Thomas

Elle’s Volleyball Profile

  • High School:  White River
  • Hometown: Buckley, WA
  • University Attending: Pacific Lutheran University
  • Degree Pursuing: Nursing

Volleyball Accomplishments:

  • SPSL 1st Team All League 2019, 2020, 2021
  • 1st Team All Area 2021
  • All State Honorable Mention 2021
  • 2021 All State Game
  • 2021 Tacoma Athletic Commission Fall Athlete of the Year

Non-Volleyball Accomplishments:  100+ hours volunteering for MultiCare

My most memorable volleyball moments are competing at nationals in 2019,2021, and 2022

My Favorite Inspirational Quote: “Don’t Suck”- Brian Embery

My Favorite motivational inspirational song: Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver

My favorite color: dark green

I’m inspired by my mom because of how much she cares for people and goes out of her way to make them happy. Anyone who knows her knows how much she loves to give and I hope to one day be as generous as her.

Something about me that most people don’t know is when my mom was a kid, she competed in the Junior Olympics as a synchronized swimmer, so whenever we go on vacation and there is a pool, I always try to mirror her talents, and absolute fail every time.

In 5 years I see myself in grad school earning my certification to be a nurse practitioner.

Some advice I’d like to give younger players is “Never stop playing for your teammates, those people will be some of the best you ever meet!

I would like to thank my parents for supporting me most through this journey. Not only have they financially supported me, but I do not remember a single time where neither of them were at one of my games. Even if the truck broke down on the side of the road (true story) they both still showed up.