On July 26, Elizabeth Sessa, senior, committed to Brown University to continue her athletic and academic pursuits as a member of the Brown Bears volleyball team. 

Brown University, founded in 1764, is an Ivy League institution known for having high academic standards. This prestigious university has an acceptance rate of 6%, making the school highly competitive. Additionally, Brown is a D1 school with a well accomplished volleyball team. Brown is currently ranked third in the Ivy League. 

Sessa started her volleyball career in fifth grade, instantly falling in love with the sport. 

“I tried a lot of sports when I was younger,” Sessa said. “Volleyball was the one that really stuck.”

She started playing for her school team in middle school, as well as for the 1st Alliance Club Team, where she quickly progressed her skill set as a right side hitter. 

Sessa didn’t consider playing volleyball in college until her freshman year of high school. However, because of her love for the sport, she was determined to make her dreams a reality. 

Her dedication to the sport made Sessa stand out on the court. Her athletic accomplishments were also eye-catching to Brown. 

In addition to her athletic achievements, Sessa is also known for being a great teammate and a leader on the court, being the varsity co-captain. 

Emma Quast, senior varsity co-captain, played volleyball with Sessa starting at Hinsdale Middle School and has watched Sessa grow as a player, friend and captain. 

“She was such an excellent leader, because she is competitive and driven to win, but she is also gracious and kind to everyone on the team,” Quast said.

Throughout high school, Sessa balanced her athleticism and commitment to volleyball with a focus on maintaining her grades. From studying on Fridays before tournaments to communicating with her teachers, Sessa always made her grades a priority. 

During recruiting, athletics is very important; however, the academic aspect is of equal importance. Due to Brown’s competitive nature, it’s incredibly important to have high grades in order to stand out. 

“Coaches want to make sure you’ll get into the school before they offer you a spot on the team,” Sessa said.