When people ask how it feels to be a senior, I tell them it still feels like I just moved in.
College really does fly.
But I also feel ready.
This roster is full of new faces from all over the country — and even beyond — and I love what that brings to our gym.
Different backgrounds. Different rhythms. Same goal.
I think this group can make a real run.
And that’s so exciting.
Learning to Lead
Being a senior leader at Oklahoma isn’t just about huddles and speeches.
It’s about how you show up when your name isn’t in the first six.
I’ve started. I’ve come off the bench. I’ve served in big moments.
The role changes. The responsibility doesn’t.
My job is to lift the energy, execute when called, and help us win.
Some of that growth came from hard lessons.
As a freshman, my identity was attached to the stat sheet. When I didn’t play much, I wondered who I was.
Over time, my faith gave me a steadier answer.
Volleyball is something I do, not who I am.
That truth made me lighter and, honestly, better for my team.
If I’m on the floor, I’m locked in on first contact, serve receive, and the next ball. If I’m not, I’m tuned into what my teammates need — a word, a read, a high-five, a reminder.
Serve the moment. Serve the people.
That’s leadership to me.
Family, Foundation, and the Night in Austin
I grew up in a basketball family.
My dad played at the University of Tulsa, where my mom played volleyball.
My brother, Bryce, became a McDonald’s All-American and finished his college career at Oklahoma State.
We were competitive in everything.
Pick-up games at 5 a.m. before school. Shooting contests that turned into dares.
That’s my family in a nutshell.
Yet, I found volleyball in middle school and fell in love with it.
A college camp coach once pulled my parents aside and said, “She’s not tall, but she’s fearless — let her specialize on defense.”
That clicked.
I’ve always had the mindset to chase every ball. The libero path made sense.
And it prepared me for moments like Nov. 3, 2024 — beating Texas on their floor.
We hadn’t done that in years.
Gregory Gymnasium was packed and loud. They knew our names. They used them.
I like that pressure.
Growing up, I learned to block out backyard trash talk, so hostile crowds don’t scare me. I breathe, I see my target, and I trust the hours I’ve put in alone in the gym.
Those nights are why you train.
Beyond the Court
My recruiting wasn’t flashy.
I injured my knee during a crucial club year, and then COVID-19 hit. Many doors closed or never opened. What I did know was this: I wanted to stay close to home.
When Oklahoma showed interest, I visited and fell in love with it immediately.
The players were welcoming. The environment fit.
And Norman is just a couple of hours from my parents and not far from my brother. Close enough to go home for a holiday, far enough to grow up.
That balance mattered.
Over time, the biggest thing that’s stood out at OU is how people care.
It isn’t just about what you put on a box score.
Coaches ask about recovery, school, and how we were doing mentally and socially. They want the whole person to succeed.
That support showed up when I landed an internship at Nike.
I walked into the staff office nervously, ready to explain why I’d miss summer workouts.
They didn’t flinch. They said, “You have to go.”
They trusted my work ethic and trusted that I’d find a way to train.
That meant everything.
I first interned at Nike’s headquarters in Oregon, where my project involved developing an internal communications strategy for global store mockups.
It opened my eyes to just how many kinds of teammates it takes to tell one brand story.
Then this past summer, I served as a production assistant at ESPN in Connecticut.
I cut highlights for SportsCenter and pulled clips for First Take — shows I grew up watching.
Sometimes the job was exactly as fun as it sounds — sit and watch a game, clip the big moments, and see them air minutes later.
The challenge was the schedule, which often extended into late nights.
I’d typically finish around 12:30 or 1 a.m., sometimes closer to 2 a.m., then sleep, reset, and be back in the gym the next morning.
I don’t drink coffee or tea, so I learned a new rhythm and just powered through it.
When the show opens and your clip rolls clean, it’s all worth it.
Those two internships gave me the confidence that I can succeed in whatever comes next.
Community and What Lasts
TikTok started as something fun. Dances with teammates. Day-in-the-life clips with my sorority sisters.
Then it turned into something bigger.
When I got the Nike internship, I searched TikTok for “what to wear” and “what to expect.” I found almost nothing. So for ESPN, I documented more — commutes, workflows, how highlights are created.
My DMs filled with questions from student-athletes and sports media majors.
If my posts make the path clearer for someone else, that’s a win.
That same spirit runs through the communities around me.
I’m part of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. My mom is a member, and I saw how her sisters always showed up — at games, at milestones, in everyday life.
Now I have that sisterhood for myself.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Black Campus Ministries have also poured into me when travel and night classes made life scattered.
Those spaces remind me I’m not alone and remind me why people call me “Smiley.”
There’s always a reason to be grateful. And always a way to give that joy back.
When I graduate with a degree in sports business and a minor in Spanish, I’m open to what’s next — a master’s program, a season abroad in Spain, or jumping straight into the sports world.
Whatever door opens, I want to carry the same standard with me.
Be present. Be prepared. Be a good teammate.
If you ask what I hope people remember about me at OU, it’s not complicated.
I hope they say I made people feel seen.
That I brought joy into the gym.
That I helped us win in the quiet ways: a read, a serve, an extra rep after practice.
And that I chased opportunities off the court the same way I chase a tough dig — with both feet moving and no hesitation.
The rest will take care of itself.
Because the work is the reward.
And I’m still smiling.
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