2018 Alabama Volleyball Newcomer Q&A: Eboni Harris
8/21/2018 3:59:00 PM | Volleyball
We will be posting Q&As with each of the six newcomers on this year's Alabama volleyball team heading into the 2018 season. Our fifth Q&A is with Eboni Harris from Ocala, Fla.
When did you start playing volleyball?
"I started with basketball but my dad wanted me to be exposed to other sports. I started rec ball at eight years old and then eased into club ball and eventually high school ball. It took about two years before I just focused on volleyball instead of that and basketball. A lot of people kept telling me I had potential with the sport of volleyball so I was leaning that way."
At what point did playing in college become a goal?
"It wasn't even a thought until later on. Early on at club, I got a college letter in the mail and that's when I thought I could actually do this. From there, I started getting more colleges looking at me so it just went on from there."
What college were you looking at initially?
"I never wanted to stay in Florida. My mom was getting her PHD at the University of Florida when we were young so I was constantly on campus. I wasn't even thinking of any Florida school really. Coach [Ed] Allen eventually came to one of my games at club and we just went from there."
What were your first impressions of Alabama?
"Coach Allen just seemed like a father figure. His values and morals really are close to what my own family has. It felt like the right fit. The way he talks and what he talks about, you're immediately drawn in and engaged. He treats everyone like family and that's what I loved."
When did you make your decision?
"Right after we left my recruiting trip, my dad and I both agreed we loved it. My mom was the one saying I shouldn't rush the decision. Some time later, Alabama played against Florida and I had just taken a visit to UF. After that match, I made my decision and called Coach Allen and told him I wanted to play at Alabama."
What was the deciding factor for Alabama over the other schools you looked at?
"The tradition at Alabama is like none other. Coach Allen really instills a lot of family values in the team and I really wanted that coming from a close family. He makes it so that everyone is close, and I haven't had any problem coming in as a freshman. There wasn't an immediate connection with any of the other schools I looked at compared to what I had here."
Right after you signed your NLI last fall, you tore your Achilles. What was going through your mind at that point and how has the rehab process been?
"It was right after I signed. The second practice of club, I just went up to hit a ball and it just tore. It was crazy. By that time, I was going through all these emotions and wondering if I'd be ready or if I'd be able to play volleyball again. Talking with Coach Allen and my therapist and surgeon they were very supportive. After surgery in late November, it was seven months of rehab and I got here probably in the sixth month. I worked with [former UA director of rehab] Rodney [Brown], he is amazing. He really got me moving forward and I'm continuing to progress. I still have some work to do. I'd say I feel about 75 percent. Obviously my jump isn't quite where I want it to be but there are sparks of where I used to be and that's giving me a lot of confidence."
How has the college acclimation process been so far?
"I'm glad we came in over the summer because it definitely was a transition process. The more classes we took and the more practices we had, it got much easier. It was a struggle sometimes, but we were able to ease into it and it's getting easier."
Has there been any homesickness?
"I got sick about my second week here. My mom wasn't here to take care of me and tell me what to take to feel better. I had to miss class I was so sick and I was sad because I missed my mom but that was really the only time I felt homesick. I talk to them all the time but now they have to text me and ask me to call because I'm so busy all the time. They know I miss them though, but I'm not about to cry every day about it."
What are your goals for the season?
"Individually I'm having to put in more work and effort coming off the injury, so I'm just trying to get acclimated and not stress myself out. I just need to work to get where I need to be. As a team we want to develop our chemistry so we can go out there and play like we know we can."
What advice would you give to an aspiring young volleyball player?
"Stay positive. You can't think of all the negatives. Especially going through the injury, I was worried about all the bad things that might happen. That wasn't helping at all. Keep positive people around you and have positive feedback in your ears. You're going to get better and you just have to keep looking up."
