By Vivian Fang
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Balancing basketball, volleyball, and Tahitian dance, Senior Sarah Liva is accustomed to hard work and dedication when it comes to sports. Having started playing volleyball in fourth grade at Hanalani, her sportsmanship earned her a full ride to University of Portland, a division one school, for volleyball.
“I went on an official visit there and I just fell in love with the city. It was so beautiful, we went when it was still fall so the leaves were all orange and stuff. It was really pretty and the coach and the team were all really nice,” said Liva.
After singling out the west coast as the ideal location for college because of its proximity to Hawaii, Liva soon started receiving phone calls from the University of Portland. “It starts with emails, then phone calls and then eventually they tell you what (they’re) offering you. And then you verbally commit first, then when a signing date comes, the college coaches come down and you sign the letter saying that you’re committed to them, and (that) you’re gonna play there,” expressed Liva.
University of Portland was not only the college drawn to Liva’s athletic abilities; University of Washington, as well as universities in New York and others on the west coast also realized what a contribution she would be to their team. “She is a pretty awesome team player. She’s just a natural leader. She’s always encouraging her girls and always pushing them to be their best. She’s one of those players that actually is able to make everybody around her that much better,” stated varsity girls basketball Head Coach Patrick Basilio, who coached Liva during basketball season.
Despite the recognition and awards Liva has won leading up to her signing, she remains humble and continues to try her best with her team. “I think what makes (Liva) stand out is (that) she always has a positive attitude. No matter if we’re losing, winning, down by 20, up by 60, it doesn’t matter. She always has a positive, encouraging attitude to all of us and I think that’s what really makes her stand out,” said Point Guard Senior Mikaela Limper, Liva’s teammate on the basketball team, “She’s not cocky or anything, she’s down to earth.”
Although not positive about what she will be majoring in, Liva looks forward to traveling to Oregon and maintaining her dedication to athletics.
Read more about Liva in MidWeek here and check out our past article:
