Wake Forest volleyball's Campbell reflects on college transition ...

(This story first published on godeacs.com)

There's nothing quite like that first year of college.

Arriving with packed bags and excited faces, it's fairly common to see first-year students step onto campus with a strong sense of ambition. Of course, who could blame them? Freshman year opens like the first chapter of a book with a heavy table of contents – new scenery, developed friendships, freedom with responsibility, you name it. It's a fast-paced journey into young adulthood.

Wake Forest volleyball first-year Cy Rae Campbell can relate, as the middle hitter is currently navigating her way through such experiences within Winston-Salem for the 2024-25 school year. As she reaches the midpoint of her first season, Cy has taken in plenty already, both on and off the hardwood. Prepping for exams and the final month of regular-season play is currently in her sights, and November, as National Native American Heritage Month, is also a time of celebration for her.

"This month means a lot to me," Cy noted. "It's about celebrating our past, present and future. It just highlights, as a community, what we can stand for and things that maybe we want to advocate for."

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A native of Olathe, Kansas, Cy grew up in The Sunflower State as an active youngster – playing multiple sports as a member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska community.

"Native Americans have always been involved in American culture. You can look at the Code Talkers movies and other examples. It's definitely important to give back and stand proud.

"We really cherish each other and are family-oriented. It means a lot to have a community that understands what is very important to us."

Growing up in a close-knit community was key to Cy's upbringing, as Olathe provided a good mix of locality and a balance of 'not much nor too little.' Finding ways to stay occupied was the main highlight of her days.

"I just liked how everything was around in Olathe – I didn't have to drive far to find things to do. I would say though that there weren't many after-school activities to do unless you participated in clubs. So, I mainly spent time playing volleyball or basketball or whatever I could find. Hanging out with friends at parks at night was always fun too."

Soon putting a stronger focus into volleyball, Cy blossomed into one of the country's best prospects at Heritage Christian Academy – ranking as high as No. 28 nationally and earning props as the top player at her position in the state of Kansas. The bouncy middle went on to collect a state championship in each of her four years as a varsity letter winner. Additionally, one can take a look at her decorated resume to see a plethora of accolades – including all-state, all-conference and all-star selections. Even with the success, Cy cites her team camaraderie as the biggest standout recollection.

"The most fun part about that experience was doing it with my friends. We won four years straight, which is a huge accomplishment, and couldn't have done it without each other. The odds were definitely stacked against us often.

"I actually attended (Heritage Christian) since I was in second grade, and most of my teammates started when they were in kindergarten. We've just been playing volleyball ever since. It was kind of like a community thing – since your friends played volleyball, it made you want to play. It all just fell in line."

When it came time to make a decision, Cy was sold on Wake Forest early into her recruiting process, committing in July 2022 before the start of her junior year. Making a move of nearly 1,000 miles away from her hometown, she, more literally speaking, felt the difference between the Midwest and East Coast upon setting foot into DEACTOWN.

"It's definitely warmer here! In Kansas, you get all of the seasons pretty well. I'd say it would be pretty colder over there at this time of year right now, compared to here. Still need to layer up though because of that wind.

"The campus is pretty laid back – that's a good thing. I really like how Wake Forest has things that are very inclusive, especially their Pro Humanitate motto and spirit. It's an experience that I feel is important for everyone to take on."

On the volleyball side, Cy entered this school year as part of a freshmen trio and one of seven overall newcomers. Wake Forest enters the second half of its ACC slate this weekend, looking to finish its regular season on a strong note through 10 final matches. The fast-paced fall has opened her eyes to the level of collegiate play in a game that continues to compete as the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

"To me, right now, there's a difference in how, when you're playing against older players, you might have done the same thing in high school, but now they're fully developed and a lot more physical. It's definitely a different speed of the game. I always felt that I was a pretty fast middle, but this is just another level.

"Another thing that's different is how you analyze the game now more than you do in high school. It used to be more so that you trust your training and see what the outcome is in high school. In college, you study players for hours – trying to find their weaknesses and see if you can make a lineup against them to try and win."

Steadily adapting and steadily growing. The future holds many possibilities for the young freshman as she patiently soaks in all that college has to offer. Still, there's a few personal goals left on her list before she finishes chapter one of her collegiate journey.

"I want to stay on top of my school work – that is always the main goal. In season, sometimes it can be pretty hard to make new friends with other classmates and students since you're so busy. That's something I'm hoping to do, maybe in the spring. In the offseason, I want to really work on my training because that's when you become faster and stronger. The game really improves in the weight room, and it all starts again in the spring."