On Friday, Sept. 13th, at 10:48 a.m., Piper Adair’s world was turned upside down. Her mother had just encountered an article in the Austin American-Statesman listing the Top 35 youth volleyball players in the Austin area, and Adair was among them. Her mother immediately shared the good news with her, and upon seeing the article, Adair couldn’t contain her excitement.
Adair had just received a poor score on a math quiz, making her feel like it could have been a better day. During FIT period, her mom excitedly texted the family group chat, saying, “Guys, look at this! Piper won an award!”
“I read it and was like oh my God!” Adair said. “Then I started showing it to all my friends. I was just so happy and it made it the best day ever.”
At lunch, she immediately shared the news with her fellow freshmen and friends, Vera Petrowsky and Julep Ulack. Petrowsky met Adair in 1st grade and they have been side by side ever since.
“This award does not surprise me,” Petrowsky said. “She is an amazing volleyball player, especially as the only freshman on varsity, she has always been an inspiration to me, and this year truly proves that! She is such an amazing friend and role model, and I am so grateful she got the award.”
Petrowsky adds that this made her respect Adair more and realize her true capabilities.
“It’s been a while since, and I am still just beaming for her!” she said.
Likewise, Julep Ulack mirroed Petrowsky’s enthusiasm. Adair said that Ulack had the best reaction.
“Everything else seems to disappear,” Adair said. “It’s just us. The crowd blurs, and a hush falls over. Something clicks within us. It’s no longer jokes and laughter; we become serious, feisty, and incredibly supportive. I tell myself no matter the outcome, as long as I try my best, I will do great, you got this!”
“Julep has always been there for me,” Adair said. “We’ve been best friends for forever, and she was just so sweet and happy for me when I told everyone at lunch.”
Ulack said that she believes in Piper’s abilities. She views Piper as she always has: a great friend, which she wouldn’t change.
“I will never get over this feeling, never!” Ulack said. “ I was so happy for her in the moment! I remember I couldn’t shake the smile from my face. I feel proud to call her my friend and so amazed by what she went through. … I think that volleyball is simply her sport, and she is insane at it. She is just going to get better. I knew that she could do it!”
In the Austin American-Statesman, as of Sept. 12, Adair executed 79 kills and 71 digs justifying her award.
She also stands as one of only seven freshmen in the article. Adair wrapped up her season on a high note, earning the second team All-District honors. Concluding the year, Adair recorded a total of 139 kills and 103 digs. This season was a significant journey for Adair, characterized by her dedication to preparing herself for future successes and maintaining a strong focus on her performance and growth on the court.
Adair set goals for this year to improve her volleyball skills, focusing on becoming a better blocker and a more well-rounded player, particularly in her hitting. While she has traditionally played in passing positions and provided support for her team, she now aims to contribute more significantly by transitioning into a hitting role. The award is a valuable reminder for her to continue progressing and serves as a checkpoint in her volleyball career.
“I think the award just helped me acknowledge to myself that I’ve accomplished something, that I am finally at the point and goal I have been reaching to,” Adair said. “This is a big year for me because I made the top team at my club, the national team, I made varsity, and won this award. It just helped me understand and prove to myself that I am doing something right, and I am actually succeeding with what I am doing and getting better and everything is working. All that hard work that I have put in is coming back to me! It feels so special to me to have won the award and been able to share it with my friends and family.”
