Plagued by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during her recruitment and the heartache of injury, senior Aźyah Dailey has shown resilience in the face of adversity. She has done everything in her power to work towards, not only the goals she laid out for herself as a student-athlete, but for a future beyond what she does on the court. Once arriving on campus, Dailey has capitalized on her Clemson experience through the Black Student Athlete Summit, POWER Women’s Leadership Academy and the support of the staff to set herself up for a prosperous future.
The Port Charlotte, Fla., native had a nontraditional journey to division-one volleyball. For many athletes, the path to collegiate sports is a well-trodden journey of in-person campus visits of campus and the athletic facilities. For Dailey, the pandemic redirected her to Clemson via virtual official visits. “The COVID-19 pandemic directed me here…Clemson was one of the few schools to accept me without a campus visit. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”
Though volleyball was not her first love–softball had that honor–a chance to try out for her middle school volleyball team set her on a different path. “Despite not making the team initially, I persisted and earned a spot the following year. Even now, people in my hometown tell this story to young girls due to my success in volleyball.”
Playing at Clemson has been a transformative experience both on and off the court. “Wearing the Clemson paw catches people’s attention, allowing me to share my journey and growth at a university. As I embark on my senior year, I have witnessed my transformation into a confident and resilient woman that I could not envision during my uncertain freshman year.”
Key to this transformation has been the support of her coaches and the entire volleyball staff, who have fostered a nurturing and open environment. “Our unique personalities are celebrated, and the coaches demonstrate a deep understanding of each of us. I’ve developed strong bonds with the coaching staff, both on and off the court.” A crucial helping factor in building the bonds with the staff was the initiation of NVA or ‘No Volleyball Allowed’ chats. Each student-athlete is on a three-week revolving schedule where they have one-on-one meetings with each staff member that can include anything but the discussion of volleyball – practice or game related. The camaraderie extends beyond the gym, with personal connections…