Audrey Haworth Committed to UMASS Lowell

There is a lot of time, effort, pain, frustration, and ultimately joy that goes into the recruiting process for any player. That’s why Team Indiana (TI) prides itself on its 100% placement rate for every athlete that wants to play in college. However, we know that our recruiting help is only part of the equation. Audrey Haworth has been a part of the TI family for multiple years and is currently playing on the 17-1s team. Audrey had a lot of options to choose from and felt a full spectrum of emotions, but when it came down to it, UMASS Lowell was the best fit for her

“I made my college decision by discussing my options with my parents and with Michelle about what I wanted in a college as far as the education, environment, size and how I felt about the coaches and players.,” said Haworth. “Once I got the offer from UMASS Lowell, we took as much time as we could to let that idea sink in and see if other options came along. As this was a good fit for me, I decided to commit to play there. ”

However simple the decision might seem once it’s completed, there is a lot that goes into the process, including a lot of time spent being uncomfortable.

“My advice for someone else going through the recruiting process is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable really quickly,” explained Haworth. “I struggled with the initial communication and reaching out (to coaches) because I was not comfortable with that, but if you want the most options and you want to find the best fit for you, then that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Outreach is one of the most important pieces of the recruiting puzzle, so as an athlete, you have to be willing to take the time to put together a thoughtful email or phone call to ensure the best conversation. Don’t have someone else write it out for you, as you don’t get any practice that way, but if you’re feeling a bit more nervous initially, get some help from your parents or a trusted coach.

When talking about preparedness for college, the conversation does not often circle around being physically fit enough or able to be away from home, but rather focuses on the academic side of the equation and being able to appropriately manage your time. Haworth thinks that, while stressful, having this burden throughout her high school and club career has prepared her for what’s next.

“To play any sport in college, you need to have good time management with your classes and your sports schedule and managing that stress which is something that I feel I have been doing for a while,“ said Haworth. “I have always taken a heavy course load and filled up my schedule with sports, clubs, and commitments. So although this hasn’t been anything like college, I feel it has prepared me.”

Anyone interested in college playing opportunities or discussing options should contact recruiting coordinator Michelle Coleman (michelle@teamindianavolleyball.com). We have been watching Audrey play for years on our courts and could not be more excited to see her continue at the next level!