We recently connected with Adelle Mccormick and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Adelle , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I have always had big goals for myself, but never had anything handed to me. In the world of volleyball, it is very competitive. The top teams from the top clubs typically have players that have been playing at top clubs from a very young age. Also, most of these players have been getting private lessons with top coaches for about as long. I didn’t start playing volleyball until I was 12. I was asked to play on a rec. team by a friend and I quickly found my passion. I lived in a smaller town in North Texas, called Wichita Falls at the time.
I knew I wanted to play volleyball moving forward. In 7th grade I fractured my back in August but still tried out and made B team at McNiel Middle School. Only 36 girls made the cut out of 148 for the program, so I was thankful I made a team but hungered to be better. My 7th grade school coach was Coach McCracken. She was an amazing coach at keeping our team centered. We were undefeated that season. I knew I needed to be on A team in 8th grade though to keep growing as a player. I tried out for a local club called W.F. Elite. Coach Abby and Coach Sakena saw potential in me and I played my first club season as a libero. Everyone finds that hilarious now since I’m 6’2″.
I worked so hard on my own to improve. I’d spend hours a day at home practicing serving, setting, and anything else I could. I felt prepared for 8th grade tryouts. I went in and really thought I did great, but I was put on B team again. I was tired of not being seen for my worth, so that’s when the real work began. Instead of giving up at this point, I was fueled even more. I met an amazing coach and mentor, Roy Rodriguez, who taught me so much. He saw me play at a random game and told my mom he saw great potential in me and wanted to develop me. I will always be thankful for his support! In the fall, I would spend Sunday nights at the rec. center playing pickup volleyball with an adult league he was in. I quickly learned to step it up playing against grown men. I also started getting private lessons from him and a coach at Windthorst Volleyball Club. I was going to the gym, going to pickup games, and getting private lessons seven days a week, on top of school ball season. I also started sports performance training with Drew at Endunamoo in Wichita Falls. He helped me get my vertical up and be more dynamic.
For eight grade club season, I didn’t get an offer from the club I played on the previous year. It does sting being rejected, but I met Coach Emily Gravitt and she believed in me from the beginning. She put me on her club team at ZIVA and moved me to front row. She developed me so much and taught me how to be dominant on the court. I had become undeniably better at this point, and I was confident in my skill. Summer before my Freshman year though I took things to another level. I was not going to be in the background anymore. My club coach ended up moving to Wichita Falls High School and I got to have her for my Freshman year too. She was working us like dogs all summer. Along with high school workouts, my mom was driving me to DFW twice a week to get lessons at Madfrog, and we were traveling to college camps. I had never experienced work like that before. My coach taught me if you want it, you have to go get it. No one is going to give it you.
When teams were announced, I was put on varsity as an opposite. I was so excited! I worked hard every single day. I might not of had the best skill, but no one was going to outwork me. There had been a culture established at the school where the team wasn’t used to giving 100%. My coach used me as an example that if the upperclassmen weren’t ready to put in the work, there is a freshman there just waiting for the opportunity to jump in and earn her spot. I appreciated that. My very first game on varsity, I left and told my mom that I should’ve done better. I asked her to take me to the gym and I spent two hours practicing by myself at the YMCA after a five set varsity match. No one is harder on me than myself, and I feel you have to have high expectations of yourself to be able to accomplish great things.
Christmas of 2020 was one of the hardest times of my life though. My Papa passed away unexpectedly from Covid19. He was healthy and he was my world. He was like a father to me. He was always at my games and always knew I would do big things. He was so proud of me. I knew that from here on out, I play for my Papa and I play for God. That spring I played club for W.F. Elite again. Coach Gabe and Coach A.J. hadn’t offered me the year before and most of the players were the same, but they were happy to have me for 15s. They both believed in me and have continued to be supportive through the years. I’m thankful for the opportunities they gave me.
After my freshman year My mom and I moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I had never been so humbled. The talent here is in insane. So is the athleticism. So is the height. I was honestly so overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I knew in order to reach my goals that I needed a more competitive environment and I pushed through. I went through club tryouts that summer and was offered a middle blocker/opposite position on Dallas Skyline Black which started as 13th in the region and ended in the top 10 that season. Coach Jimmy and Coach Robin set me up with a sports performance trainer and with coaches for private lessons. I worked hard all summer training, traveling to colleges, and working out at my new high school. We had moved to Allen because of my mother’s job, but the Allen ISD school board wouldn’t approve my UIL transfer. I was on JV my sophomore year. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I had put my heart and soul into volleyball, and was not only in a new city, but the one thing I loved, I couldn’t do. I did make some lifelong friends during my time at Allen, and I’m grateful for that, but I just kept feeling that when I’d get a step ahead, I’d have to take two back.
Then club season for 16s came. I had jumped from the lowest division of volleyball to the highest in one year. My team played in Open and USA that season. I switched between middle blocker and opposite but didn’t play as often as I had hoped. We played several qualifiers around the country and got a bid to the National Championships. I knew I needed to be better, jump higher, hit harder, and make my presence undeniable. Coach Jimmy told my mom that when colleges asked him which player would be the best in two years, he told them my name. He could always see my potential. I know I was newer on the volleyball scene than the rest of the team, but I will work as hard as I need to catch up and always keep growing.
Halfway through my sophomore year I had a reaction to a prescription medication that ended up putting me in the ICU for several days and intubated. I almost died. I realized when I woke up that I can never take a day for granted. Nobody cares. Work harder. I knew my goals to play competitive collegiate volleyball depended on how bad I wanted it. I finally had my license and began driving myself to the gym at 5am to get workouts in before I drove myself to school. I learned to cook and began meal prepping for myself to be at peak performance. I continued the private lessons and sports performance training. Then my mom had to move us again for work and I started at Anna High School.
Moving so much did teach me to be outgoing and adaptable. I was hopeful it would be the last time I’d move in high school and it is! My junior school season was great. I won awards for most aces, most blocks, Denton Calvary Tournament MVP, Academic All District, and Honorable Mention All District. We ran a tri-middle, so I got a lot of experience at outside and with defense. I really love being able to play all over the court. I trained very hard non-stop and towards the end of district, my body was shutting down. I was told I needed one day of recovery per week and began seeing a physical therapist for preventative measures to keep my body in a good place. I have found that taking care of your body is the most important thing when you play at a very high level because it keeps you able to deliver.
For my 17s club season, I signed with Arete Athletics as a middle blocker. They were a top team, ranked 8th in the region. There was a lot of talent on my team and we competed in the Open and USA divisions as well. Every season has its ups and downs and driving all the way to Houston to only play one set the entire weekend was definitely hard on my mental game, but I knew that I just had to deliver when given the chance and support my team when I wasn’t in. Shortly after, we took the gold at the Pacific Northwest Qualifier and I had a .361 hitting percentage that tournament. We qualified there for the National Championship and took home 13th. I learned that there is a reason so few make it to the top; it’s cut throat. This past season my serve was recorded at 48 mph and my approach was up to 9’11”. Eric at e4 Athletics has worked with me this past year and he is the best at sports performance training. He really helped me elevate my game.
Summer after junior year was intense. Not only was there still practice for Nationals and the National Championship in Las Vegas in July, but I also had to train personally, show up for my high school team, travel around the country to colleges for recruitment, and I worked as a lifeguard. It’s a lot of sacrifice, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything because I know that one day it will all pay off. Even now, I have learned how to have adult conversations with coaches. I have also learned to manage time to balance work, school, and sports. I have become a better communicator. I have gained leadership skills and stand up for others. I help my teammates with their confidence and mental game. Volleyball has really taught me so many valuable life lessons.
I have committed to play 18s at Fieldhouse with Coach Michele Maxwell and am beyond excited. She is a great technical coach with such a big heart and high expectations. She was a D1 athlete and Assistant Coach at a D1 school and has big plans for me. I love how much she believes in me, and although I do have high self motivation, having a coach that sees your worth can push athletes beyond their known capabilities and I’m ready for it.
Right now, I am in the middle of my Senior season at Anna High School. Coach Brittani James has been such a wonderful mentor to me for these past two years. She has given me opportunities to contribute all over the court and this season I am opposite, middle blocker, outside and left back. My team chose me to be the Captain this year as well for which I am extremely honored!
Currently, I am not yet committed for college. I am seeking the right fit and feel confident it will come when the time is right. It’s important to me to find my home for the next four years because I don’t want to jump around like I had to in high school. I also want a great culture that values a strong work ethic, positivity, and competitiveness. I know that when I do commit, those girls are my people that I have been waiting to meet since I started playing on that rec. league at 12 years old. That’s when the training has to go even harder!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My goals are to obtain a degree in Business/Finance while making an impact on a competitive collegiate volleyball team. I want to have a successful career in Wealth Management and one day open a Sports Performance training facility to help young athletes with big dreams reach their goals.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Effort
2. Attitude
3. Tenacity
Lead with faith and trust the process. Every time you are in the gym or on the court, you should work like it is a tryout. No matter what level you are at, coaches are always watching; at games and on film. They are watching your attitude, your effort, how you react when you are losing, are you a good teammate, how you react when you are on the bench, how you respect your coaches. Everything matters from day one, so always do your best and don’t have regrets.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I pray. Take a second and talk to God. Debrief and reset.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adellemccormickmb25?igsh=aGhjZDBvcWh2Mnp0&utm_source=qr
- Twitter: https://x.com/AdelleMccormick
- Other: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16325147/Adelle-McCormick https://my.sportsrecruits.com/athlete/adelle_mccormick2
Image Credits
Shelby McKay
ShiShi Photography
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