Really enjoyed reading this. Incredible the commitment it takes to reach the level of a Stanford scholarship athlete, especially in a sport like women's volleyball, where Stanford is the preeminent program, and the admissions breaks aren't dramatic. Rooting so hard for her and this year's squad.
The Prodigy and the Protégé
The Prodigy and the Protégé
USC was among the first major colleges to show interest in Kami, but the idea of playing at a school where her father's shadow would follow her to every nook did not appeal to her. If anything, Harold felt more strongly than Kami. Their visit cemented that. People walked up to the Miners and shook Harold's hand, telling him how much they loved his game.
In spring 2018, Stanford reached out. Kami had not given Stanford any serious thought. It was an academically rigorous school, and she didn't know if she would fit in. But she fell in love with the volleyball team and the campus. The feeling was mutual.
"I was blown away at the whole family, to be honest," Stanford coach Kevin Hambly says. "Her dad's perspective and how she's developed ... I'm like, man, this is certainly a good fit."
When the Miners rode to the airport after their visit, Kami burst into tears. "This is where I want to go to school," she told Harold and Pam.
For the next two years, to meet Stanford's academic requirements, Kami took on eight AP courses at Redondo Union, in addition to playing on her high school and club teams. Sometimes Brayden, with whom she shared a room, woke up late at night and found the desk lamp on, Kami's head bent over a notebook. Brayden could hear her scribbling away in the otherwise quiet night.
