Getting to Know...Reagan Petty
8/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Alabama Volleyball welcomes eight newcomers to the team this season, so we'll be chatting with all of them over the next few days. Our eighth and final newcomer is Reagan Petty from Franklin, Tenn.
How did you get your start playing volleyball?
"I started when I was in sixth grade. I signed up for my first rec team and it was really just because a lot of my friends played and it seemed like fun. I went out for the school team and a lot of people on that team played travel too, so I started playing travel around seventh grade and it progressed from there."
What other sports were you playing?
"I played basketball but I stopped that around my freshman year. At that time, my volleyball coaches told me I might have a future in the sport so it got a little more serious."
Was playing in college a goal of yours?
"That was definitely in my mind. I started going on visits my freshman year and ended up committing to Alabama just after my sophomore year."
What were your top choices for college and what led you to choose Alabama?
"My top three were probably here, Missouri and Belmont. I liked Belmont just because I love the Nashville area but I kind of ruled that out because I thought if I had the opportunity to play in the SEC, I should probably take it. When it came down to Missouri and here, I just loved the emphasis that people place on sports here. It's a big deal to everyone. I really liked the family atmosphere of the team here at Alabama too."
Was distance from home a factor in your decision to come here?
"It was a factor. Tuscaloosa is only about three and a half hours from Nashville where somewhere like Missouri would be an eight-hour drive. I like being able to have the option to go home if I have a free weekend."
What were your first impressions of the campus?
"When I first came on campus, I thought driving down University Blvd. by the quad was gorgeous. That really stood out to me. When I hung out with the team a little bit I could tell that they were close and very supportive of each other and that was important to me because I wanted to be a part of that. I felt like the coaches really wanted to get to know us and make us comfortable. It felt more like a family here instead of a business."
You and fellow freshman Kat Hutson played club volleyball together. Were you two discussing your recruiting process together?
"She committed here before I did. We came to camp together soon after that and I committed after that camp. We came on our official visit together. It's cool to have a friend from home here to ease the transition."
What are some of the goals of your freshman class over the next four years?
"I think with the type of athletes that are coming here, we definitely have the potential to win the SEC and make it pretty far in the NCAA Tournament. Those are goals that everyone on the team has. We'd also like to make a name for Alabama Volleyball. In the past, people didn't think of Alabama as one of those top programs, so we'd like to establish that here."
What has the adjustment to college life been like so far?
"It's like high school in some ways because I took a lot of AP classes. It hasn't been too difficult so far. I came here in the spring and at first, it was just tough being away from home but once I was here for a while and started making friends it was OK."
What's the biggest tip you would give to any young aspiring volleyball players out there?
"With recruiting, I would tell them to be proactive. Make the first move with coaches. There are so many players out there, it's impossible for a coach to notice every single one. If you have interest in a certain school, definitely call that coach or send an email or video."
Previous "Getting to Know" Features:
01 - Leah Lawrence
02 - Brooke Feld
03 - Kat Hutson
04 - Bruna Evangelista
05 - Natalie Murision
06 - Emily Stebbins
07 - Haley Little
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