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YAIAA athlete spotlight: Dover's Sammie Strausbaugh


Dover's Sammie Strausbaugh is a rising senior.  As a junior, she was the York Daily Record Division I Girls' Volleyball Player of the Year.  She finished the season leading the Eagles in kills (534), blocks (69),  and aces (57).


How long have you been playing volleyball?

I started playing club at nine years old.  When I was younger though, I was always in the gym because my mom has always been a coach so me and my sister would always go to the practices.  So really I was playing since I was only a couple of years old.

What position do you play?

I play almost all of the positions.  I play back row and either hit outside, or sometimes set and then hit outside, it depends on the situation and who we are playing.


What team do you play on for club ball?

I play for Yorktowne

What was it about volleyball that interested you in playing?

When I was young, I played a lot of sports.  I did basketball, soccer, softball, and gymnastics.  For some reason though volleyball always stuck.  I have always been really competitive and I always felt like volleyball was what I was best at.  Being so competitive, I always wanted to win so that was really what made me stick to volleyball.  There is just something about volleyball.  I really understand it mentally.  I just feel like I am stronger at it than any other sport.  You know when you really like something and I really like volleyball.

How did your team do this past year?

At Dover, we tied with Spring Grove for the Division championship.  For the league championship we got first, we beat Spring Grove in the championship.   We went to Districts' and got second because we lost to Hempfield in that final.  From there we went to the State Tournament where we lost in the final four to a team called Upper Marion.  

How does this years team look?

We lost six seniors.  That is going to hurt but I mean we can always work with what we have. I think we have three sophomores coming up.  We did lose some but I think with hard work we can do good this year too as long as everyone does your job.

As a senior, have you chosen a college to attend?

I have already verbally committed to Jacksonville University in Florida.  

What is your favorite night before a match meal?

Whenever we go out at tournaments, I always eat salmon.  I am not sure why, but I just do.

What is your favorite t.v. show?

Dog the Bounty Hunter

What is your favorite junk food?

Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips

What is your favorite movie of all-time?

It's a tie between Elf and Karate Kid

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

Ever since I was young, this was involving school and I would get really frustrated and overwhelmed, the one thing that stuck in my mind was my mom told me to, "Work hard now to make the rest of your life easy."

Would you rather vacation at a beach or mountains?

Definitely the beach

If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation, where would you go?

One place I have always wanted to go to was Italy.  I think because I like Italian food and it just seems cool to go there.  My sister went there a few years ago and really liked it.