Emoryathletics.com continues its senior spotlight series with a look at current student-athlete Leah Saunders from the women's volleyball team.
Name: Leah Saunders
Hometown (High School): Simpsonville, SC (St. Joseph's Catholic)
Sport: Volleyball
Major: Anthropology
Minor: Sociology
How did you start getting involved with volleyball? How old were you when you started playing?
My friends in middle school told me I should try out for the volleyball team when I was in the 8th grade. I then played on my school's varsity team from freshman year through senior year and started playing club volleyball my junior year of high school after I stopped playing basketball.
Do you have any current plans for after graduation?
I plan on taking a gap year before going to graduate school for my masters or PhD in Sociology.
What is one piece of advice you would give to your freshman self?
One piece of advice I would give to my freshman self would be to celebrate the small victories and to not panic when you make a mistake. Really enjoy the tough times as much as the easy times and take more time to reflect on our days. In other words, live in the moment!
Which Emory faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
My assistant coach, Brianna Jones has made the greatest impact on me during my time at Emory. She has been one of my biggest supporters as well as someone who I know will always hold me accountable on and off the court. No matter what, when I see her, I know it's going to be a joy-filled experience and I'll leave feeling more motivated and energized than before. A lot of my academic and athletic development has been because of her support and encouragement.
What is one class would you retake just for fun and why?
I would retake Sociology of Sex and Gender with Professor Bledsoe because it was one of my favorite courses that I have taken while at Emory. One semester wasn't enough time to cover all of the concepts and topics that are to be discussed and I would love to be able to listen to more of her lectures and course content.
What is the most unique thing about your hometown?
My hometown is considered one of the bigger cities in South Carolina but it's still pretty small. So even though there are a lot of businesses and development, it's a pretty small community where you can know a lot of people, kind of like a city with a small-town feel.
What is something that people may not know about you but should?
I'm a first-generation American! My parents are from Trinidad and Tobago and they moved to the United States in the 90s.
Other than the sport you play, what is another one you think you could play at a high level?
I think I could have played basketball at a high level since I played for 11 years before deciding to switch to volleyball full time my junior year of high school. It was really a sport that I loved playing and that I still love watching across all levels.
What is one professional athlete (past or present) would you like to have a conversation with and why?
I would like to have a conversation with Serena Williams because I feel that she has a lot of experiences and wisdom that would be beneficial to hear and learning about her mentality towards life would possibly change the way I see the world as well.
How have you been trying to occupy your time given the current COVID environment?
Honestly, I watch at least one volleyball match a day. But if I'm not watching sports, I'm hanging out with my roommates and exploring Atlanta. Other than that, course work has been keeping me very busy this semester!
Food you hate that everybody else seems to enjoy?
Cream cheese. So gross.
What would you say are your top three movies or television shows of all time?
- Interstellar
- New Girl
- Avatar the Last Airbender (the show, not the movie)
What is your favorite thing to do around Atlanta?
Walk along the Beltline!
What has been your most memorable moment during competition during your Eagles career?
So I have two. First would be the final set of the national championship game my sophomore year because we just played as one unit. Turning to see the team rushing the court on the final point after a kind of tumultuous season was unforgettable. The second would be losing the national championship my junior year. Even though we were all devastated by the loss, we decided to spend the rest of the night together and reminisced on our favorite moments of the season and just celebrated each other and our journey together.
Favorite non-athletic moment from your past few years at Emory?
Dinners at the DUC/DCT after practice with the team. Some of the funniest conversations I have ever had was at the long tables with my teammates. Or going to the library freshman and sophomore year and getting no work done, just ordering food and talking with my friends until midnight or later.
What would be one thing you'd like to impart to the underclassmen before finishing your career?
I want to encourage the underclassmen to never second guess yourself. Holding back because you fear making a mistake only hinders your development on and off the court. In cliche terms, just go for it. Allow yourself to be fully involved in whatever you love or fascinates you. With volleyball specifically, trust the process and always play for your teammates.