Senior Profile: Rodriguez gabs about team, future

Princeton High volleyball player Gaby Rodriguez has had a great season.

The Lady Eagles were 10-0 in league play and are 21-8 overall.

With 181 kills, 56 aces and 143 digs to her name and games still to be played, Rodriguez is a force in the Pioneer Valley League, but to her, it is the team and not her personal numbers that matter most, especially now.

"I don't look at my own stats or kills, etc. I'm competitive towards the other team, but not my own teammates. It is more about the team winning and us doing well, than my individual stats."

Rodriguez truly embraces the team mentality, contributing their winning season to every person while possessing insight beyond her years, saying, "We are good because the whole team, everyone is good. We all have our times to shine. But then when one of us falls apart we have to get down and pick each other up, and we do."

Perhaps the family atmosphere of her high school and Princeton is why, after attending college, Rodriguez has plans of returning to the area. But, that is after she accomplishes her goal of going into criminal justice and forensic science, a goal she has had since she was in sixth grade.

Aside from her love of criminal justice and forensics, "I really like the police force and sciences mixed together," she explained, Rodriguez plays softball, volleyball and basketball, but it is softball that has captured a certain place in her heart.

For the Eagles she plays shortstop or center field, but prefers center, and hopes to continue with that position for the upcoming season as well.

Softball is so much an important aspect of her life, and it factors into her future goals as well, as she plans on playing softball for the college or university she attends.

Rodriguez applies her determination and winning attitude toward her sports future as well, saying, "I'm going to go out, talk to coaches and go to camps. I'm going to prepare myself, and practice so that I am ready to play."

With the upcoming playoffs, being ready is a necessity, and Rodriguez feels she and her team are more than prepared, saying, "I hope we can make it to the end, but we have to make it past the first two rounds."

Being prepared is one thing, but Rodriguez also feels her team has put in the leg-work and extra effort during the season adding, "We've accomplished a lot of goals this season. Hopefully we'll accomplish more into the playoffs. We all just wanted to see how far we could get as a team, come together and see just how far we could go. We just go for it. With good coaching, and thinking we can to it, we can. Go Lady Eagles!"

Princeton rolls out the red carpet to host Liberty on Tuesday in the first round of the NSCIF playoffs.

CONTACT Emily Saint-Evens at 824-7990 or esaintevens@tcnpress.com