Challenges surrender before incoming Villanova University volleyball player Abby Harrell, writes Scott Spruill for Yakim-Herald-Republic.

She was a big force from her freshman days forward playing volleyball with the Ellensburg High School Bulldogs in the Kittitas Valley in Washington State.  

Harrell helped lead the team to its first all-state honors and has had back-to-back CWAC player of the year honors.

Now in her final season, the Bulldogs are 7-0 in the league, ranked seventh in the state.

“I’ve been blessed to have had some amazing coaches who have pushed me to continue to develop and grow, both in high school and club,” she said.

She grew up and worked on a hay farm. She learned determination and resilience during the pandemic.

Harrell committed to Villanova in her junior year. Harrell knew it was the right move after meeting the Villanova team and coaches.

“After connecting right away with the players, coaches, and faculty it was obvious that Villanova had exactly what I was looking for,” she said.

She appreciated that Villanova was one of the top-ranked private religious schools in the nation, but she was ultimately drawn to the people.

“Villanova checked all the boxes.”

Read more about Abby Harrell at the Yakima Herald Republic.

Here’s a May 2020 workout video of Abby Harrell during the COVID-19 quarantine.