Plant City High School's volleyball team got off to a great start in 2018, winning four of its first five games. One of the key players has been senior Nyah Collins, who leads the team in almost all attacking categories and is second in blocks with 13 total. Collins hopes to enroll at Florida A&M University after high school to study either business or journalism.
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Looks like you're all off to a pretty good start this year. How would you say things are going, from a player's perspective?
Everything's going well. We're working as a team to make things happen. The coaches are making us work hard so, with teams we'd have trouble with, we're ready for them. This is my last year and I think I'm doing pretty good. I feel like sometimes I can do better and that's obvious, but I'm working hard at practice to make sure I'm playing well.
What are your goals for this year?
For education, to boost my GPA up and to get scholarships, and get accepted into FAMU. This is my last year (of volleyball). I'm not going to play in college, but I'd just like to end with a good season, go into districts headstrong and keep pushing.
What first got you into volleyball?
Six years ago, one of my best friends told me about a YMCA camp that I went to. I started just doing those and doing conditioning, and I started getting more into competitive volleyball.
What's your proudest moment with the team?
Definitely going to districts and winning our first round against Strawberry Crest.
What will you miss most about volleyball?
Definitely my teammates. Playing with my friends, I'll miss that because I'm not going to do it in college.
What do you like to do for fun outside of volleyball?
I'm in a couple clubs. I'm in NHS, I do a lot of community service. I help out at the day care I used to go to, with all the little kids. I'm in this organization called Jack and Jill which is where we help people that are less fortunate.
What's the most rewarding thing about your community service?
Just to see the impact. To help other people, see the smiles on their faces.