My Volleyball Story: Isabelle Garrido

Each Wednesday throughout the summer, Montana volleyball student-athletes and coaches will tell their volleyball stories. Read, in their own words, what the sport means to them and where their passion and drive comes from.

My Volleyball Story: Isabelle Garrido

I was introduced to volleyball at a young age, when my older sisters were playing in high school. I remember thinking I wanted to be just as good as them.

There is one scene that always replays in my head when I think about volleyball. I was watching my sisters' high school game; I was seven at the time and could barely catch a volleyball with two hands. My oldest sister, Gabrielle, was the team captain and libero. She was known for diving and never giving up on a play. During one scramble play, she was trying to dig a ball but hit her head and had to be taken out. I remember my parents telling me she would be fine, and it was just a concussion. This could have made me scared to play volleyball, but instead she inspired me to play just as aggressively and passionately as she did.

Isabelle Garrido younger

At my first tryout for a competitive club team, I wanted to stand out, so I wore bright-colored spandex so the coaches would notice me during drills. I remember feeling nervous and starting to compare myself to other girls. However, when I saw my tryout number on the team roster, I ran to my parents with the biggest smile on my face. This is one of my favorite memories because it became the foundation of my love for volleyball.

Volleyball became more than a hobby at this point, I dedicated most of my time after school and during the summer to getting better. As I time went on, I gained some of my closest friends and coaches I could depend on for advice or tips. It was my freshman year and one day before practice when my club coach asked, 'Who wants to play collegiate ball?'. Of course, my whole team raised their hands. That was the goal, being able to be noticed and good enough to play at the college level.

There were times throughout the years when I wanted to quit volleyball. To me it was like a block that made me think negatively of a sport I loved. I was getting burned out, but I remember the moment when I started thinking about how much dedication and love I had for the game. To this day, I am so thankful for the people who pushed me to keep playing and to never give up.

As time flew by, I began my recruiting process. When I went on my unofficial visit at the University of Montana, I knew I was going to be joining something special. Family has always been important to me, since they were my support as I grew up, through good times and bad. What I was looking for was a home away from home, and I knew that these girls were going to be my second family.

When I first got to Montana and moved into my dorm, I missed being home. The college transition was hard on me, but these girls made it so much easier. The opportunity to be a part of Griz Volleyball is something I will never take for granted. The friendships, laughs, tears and memories I've created here have made everything I've done to be here worth it.

Through this program, I have learned so much and have grown into the person I am today. These girls have become my closest friends and I would not be who I am today without them. Their love and support have pushed me through the hardest practices and drills, and I truly do not know what I would do without them.

Izzy Garrido

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Isabelle Garrido

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