Texas A&M Volleyball players Angela Lowak (Pi Beta Phi), Katelyn Labhart (Chi Omega), and Shelby Sullivan (Chi Omega) have more than just a powerful jump serve up their sleeve.Â
These three girls are not just members of this successful team, they are accomplished students and members of Greek organizations.Â
The amount of time a student-athlete spends being both a student and a member of a division I sports team is mind boggling. Add a sorority into the mix and all that remains is a schedule that is nearly incomprehensible.Â
Just a few weeks ago, Aggie Volleyball swept through the USC Classic tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. The weekend consisted of wins over (#6) USC, and (#13) San Diego. This success has catapulted these hard-working women into the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Top 25 rankings, landing them at 21st.
Winning is never easy. It requires hard work, persistence, and support. When asked what the best part about being a greek-athlete is, Labhart described her team as providing a "unique, deep bond" that emerges when you laugh, cry, and face adversity together.Â
On the other hand, Labhart said that for her Chi O is a place she can come back to and be immersed in an uplifting environment where girls "genuinely care" about her passions and commitment to Aggie Volleyball. Her friends in Chi O care about how she is doing as person when "sports are stripped away," she said.Â
Prioritizing three major obligations, teammate, student, sorority member, seems like a daunting task. Sullivan and Labhart have both lived in the Chi O House, which has allowed them to interact with girls on a regular basis and experience a certain amount of normalcy. Along with this, there is always school work to be caught up on due to the amount of travel they have, causing them to miss class.Â
Good thing both the Pi Phi and Chi O houses have quiet areas to study. Even then, it is a constant battle to maintain academic excellence.Â
According to Labhart, the only way true order can be made of her chaotic life is having Christ at the center. She pursues spiritual growth in everything she does, unifying her ultimate goals in the midst of a hectic schedule.Â