Quakers Alumni Profile: Amberlyn Daglian

Each week take time out to get to know an alumnus from the Moorestown High School Athletic Department. In this segment, Moorestown Patch sports editor Jim Vassallo chats with former MHS volleyball player and current Virginia Wesleyan student Amberlyn Daglian about the difficult changes from high school to college volleyball and why she wants her coaches to yell at her. 

Moorestown Patch: What is your major?

Amberlyn Daglian: My major is business with a focus in accounting.

Patch: What stood out about Virginia Wesleyan?

Daglian: Virginia Wesleyan stood out to me because it is five minutes from the beach, they have a great volleyball program, my major and I love the small college community.

Patch: What stood out about the Virginia Wesleyan volleyball program?

Daglian: The Virginia Wesleyan volleyball team stood out to me because of the great coaching staff, their winning records every year and their goals to have a NCAA bid.

Patch: How has your transition been from high school to college in the classroom? On the court?

Daglian: In the classroom, the transition has been easy so far. There is more work in college, but I have always been a good student and never settle for less than my best. On the volleyball court, the transition was the hardest thing I have ever done. I went from being a star on my high school team to just average in college. High school volleyball was challenging at times, but it was fun. College volleyball is strictly business. You go into the gym to get a job done. That is to improve and compete. Once I got the hang of things, I caught on fast, and now I have a great time with the team in practices. 

Patch: Is the speed of the game much different in college?

Daglian: The speed of the game is 10 times faster. You have to be physically and mentally tough to compete in a college volleyball match.

Patch: How did Moorestown coach Scott Atkinson prepare you for college?

Daglian: Coach Atkinson helped me look at schools, and spoke with the coaches for me. Atkinson was a great coach on and off the court. He believed that I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it. He was right because I worked hard and am now on a college volleyball team.

Patch: What is your most memorable moment from the volleyball court in high school?

Daglian: The most memorable moment on the high school volleyball court was my sophomore year. We were away at Cinnaminson. It was a big game and we were playing awfully. I was the starting setter and I took it for granted. I was taken out of the game and Atkinson did not yell at me. It was at that moment that I realized when a coach stops yelling at you he has given up on you. I was not going to let that happen. The next day at practice, I came in focused and ready to work. My spot was never taken from me again.

Patch: What are your goals for the season this year?

Daglian: This year I want to improve my setting techniques and learn as much about my new team so that we can play well together on the court.

Patch: What aspect of your game did you work on during the off-season?

Daglian: In the off-season, I worked on my vertical and endurance the most. I knew preseason included a lot of running and jumping and I wanted to be prepared. I was prepared.

Patch: What was the most important thing you learned from Coach Atkinson while in the program?

Daglian: The most important thing I learned from Coach Atkinson when I played for him was to never give up, and to know that we were a good team. When we believed in each other and our team, we were unstoppable.

Patch: What did you learn from your teammates while on Moorestown's volleyball team?

Daglian: I learned from my teammates that when I got down they got down. I needed to stay positive in every situation for everyone to play at their best. They taught me that they have my back when things are going downhill. They were my second family and were always there for me.

Patch: What attracted you to the sport of volleyball?

Daglian: I was attracted to volleyball because my sister and dad played it. I grew up in South Florida watching my dad play every weekend. When I moved to Jersey, I decided I wanted to get involved in the volleyball program. It was the best decision I have ever made.

Patch: If you could give one piece of advice to this year's seniors in Moorestown's tennis program, what would it be?

Daglian: I would encourage them to work hard, have confidence and never give up. If they love the sport then put your heart into it. Give it everything you've got. If you want to play in college, work even harder in the off-season because you might be the star in high school, but college is a whole different story.