VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State Athletics is proud to feature student-athletes across the United States and the globe to add to VSU's deep culture of diversity. Most students feel a sense of homesickness and must cope with the reality of living away from their families when beginning college. 

For student-athletes at Valdosta State, there is added pressure to being a student and competing at one of the top DII athletic programs in the nation. They must work with coaches, trainers and teammates as well as making sure they are performing at the top of their game on and off the court, even if their day is filled with classes, tests, games and practices.  

Sophomore Ramsey Marshall of the Valdosta State volleyball team says that a normal day for her usually entails waking up bright and early around 6:45 in the morning to get ready for practice.  

"I brush my teeth, get dressed, and grab something to snack on for after practice," Marshall said. "I arrive at the gym around 7:15 and grab my practice gear and get prepared for practice." 

Marshall said that the Blazer volleyball team typically practices from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and said once she gets home she makes a 'real' breakfast and typically takes a nap or does homework, depending on the week.  

"After my morning routine, I go to weights at one in the afternoon and then I do study hall until my class begins at 3:30 p.m.," Marshall said. "After class, my day gets pretty typical. I go home, take a shower, make dinner, and then I will finish any homework that I need to do. After all that, it's bedtime!" 

In addition to 'normal' days for Marshall, she says gamedays have a little added energy to them during preparation for the match.  

"When it's gameday we have the opportunity to get extra reps in at the Complex in the morning around eight, so that's the first thing that I do to begin my day," Marshall explained. "If we have away games later in the day, I make sure I have everything packed before the bus leaves, but if it's a home match I just make sure I have all my necessities in my locker before I go home!"  

After preparing for the game Marshall says after she packs or eats, the real preparation for the match begins.  

"The first thing I do to prepare for the game is to get my hair done by miss Lyara Rosario," Marshall said cheerfully. "I then will put on my warmup gear and then do walkthroughs with the team. Next, the team and I will have a meeting with coach Zoucha to go over the expectations for the game, then lastly, we go out ready for the game!"  

Marshall said that the most challenging thing about being a student-athlete at VSU is managing the balance between schoolwork and the work you must put into your sport.  

"It's already such a huge change coming out of high school," Marshall explained. "The amount of work you're used to doing before you become a student-athlete is drastically different from when you get here, let alone maintaining your position on the team and all the relationships. I absolutely love the challenge, but it's not easy." 

Marshall explained the balance of schoolwork while playing sports will never be easy for her, but she's able to put the necessary time into studying when she's free to make it possible.  

"The bus rides and study hall hours are my best friends, so I use them to my advantage," Marshall said. "I have definitely had to take some restless nights to catch up on work, but it's worth it." 

Marshall said she choose to play at VSU because of the academics and what the Nursing program here had to offer her. She explained that Valdosta State was super close to home, and the players in the program made her feel welcomed. 

"I absolutely loved the team when I visited, and now I have life-long friends!" Marshall exclaimed. "My core memories are always with my team here. The bus rides, the hotels, and just playing with people I'm so close with is priceless. My favorite memories are probably working camps and signing shirts for the kids that really look up to the team during the summer. I think it's the cutest thing and makes you feel like you're doing something positive for the community that the kids will remember forever." 

Marshall says that she dedicates most of her time to volleyball and schoolwork and doesn't have much time for any on-campus organizations. She explained the team does have FCA representative Scarlett Holt, to come in and talk with some of the players at practice so it's easier on them to be a part of something outside of athletics.  

In her free time, Marshall says she loves to go to target and just look around to pass the time. 

"I know it sounds weird, but it really just makes me so much happier," Marshall said on her Target runs. "Other than Target, I always love watching a good television series or movie, if time allows it. Another weird thing I love doing in my free time is deep cleaning or organizing my apartment because I cannot focus if my room is messy."  

Marshall hails from High Springs, Fla., 22 miles outside of Gainesville, Fla. 

"My family and I are super close, so they definitely try to come to all my games," Marshall said. "My whole family is a volleyball family, so both my parents and sisters have played or currently play volleyball. My dad coaches at my old high school and coaches at the club I grew up playing in. My mom also coached me in my rec years, along with both my sisters. My sister played collegiately at the University of West Florida, but since she's done playing, she coaches alongside their team as a volunteer coach." 

Marshall said that it's pretty hectic for her mom to be able to see her play games, considering she has four teams to support but says her mother is her biggest fan even with all that's going on in life. She said her favorite memory from High Springs is going to the state tournament with her high school volleyball team, one of the first times in program history, two years in a row. 

Even though it's difficult for Marshall to maintain a balance between being an athlete and a student, she has been able to create lifelong friendships and develop a disciplined work ethic at VSU. Ramsey continues to be a vital part of the Valdosta State volleyball team and adds to the competitiveness and discipline within the athletic department, proving what it means to be a student-athlete.