Student Athlete Spotlight: Volleyball's Julia Christian

Courtesy of MCLA Sports Information- Jaclyn Candelet

In the 8^th grade, Julia Christian's mother wanted her to go try out for the volleyball team at Catholic Central High School in Cohoes, New York, but she begged her not to make her go. "She always pushes me to do things outside my comfort zone," said Christian. Christian made the junior varsity team that year, but said there were times she would sit the bench and never play. Encouraged by her mother who told her she was a great player and one day would get time on the court, she continued to play.

After high school, she attended Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) for two years. She decided to dedicate her first year to her studies and not play, but the transition from being a three sport athlete to not playing at all was difficult.  With that said, she found herself playing volleyball her second year.

While playing at a tournament with HVCC,  MCLA Head Coach Amanda Beckwith, gave Christian information about MCLA and she started doing research and informed her mother about the school. "We looked at the school and I really liked it," Christian stated, "I thought I might as well play volleyball."

Now the senior co-captain is one of the most feared and dominating players on the MCLA Trailblazers volleyball team.

Sixteen games into the season and Christian leads the team on the offensive side of the net with 132 kills and the defensive side with 19 single blocks. She scores an average of 3.1 points per set. This past weekend she was named to the All Tournament Team, over the three matches she had 27 kills on 85 attempts and 32 digs.

"Getting the chance to be an academic leader and an athlete," Christian stated when asked what the best part of being on the MCLA volleyball team was. "It means a lot to me that I can say I played a sport in college but also got a degree."

Christian has a bright future ahead of her; she is a Biology major with a concentration in Occupational Therapy.  After she receives her diploma in May she plans on going to get her masters at Sage College in New York. Her hope is to one day work with children who have handicaps.

Come see Julia Christian on the court when the Trailblazers host a tri-match featuring Bard and Johnson State on Saturday October 6^th, first match starting at 12:00 PM.