Path to success

Success.

Sophomore volleyball player Lindsay Schlegel strives for it both on and off the court. She has many interests and qualities that separate her from the average student.

Schlegel came to Buffalo after captaining for two seasons at Lancaster High School. Due to her play, she helped her team to Class AA State titles and was named All-State every year in high school.

Schlegel looks at many people as role models, and she attempts to mimic their work ethic and style.

"My old club coaches and past coaches have been people who have really inspired me," Schlegel said. "They have been really good role models for me to follow, and have always had good advice for me to follow, and have always been there for me."

Schlegel looked up to professional athletes in a way that's unlike most fans.

"I was never one of those kids who had a big picture of an athlete in their room," Schlegel said. "I followed the Sabres and Bills but never had just one person that I really loved. There are many different people that I look up to their style of playing but never one that I adored."

Sports have always been a big part of Schlegel's life. She had previously played basketball and softball, but her family supported her decision to continue on playing volleyball throughout the years.

"When I was younger, my sister played volleyball and I wanted to follow in her footsteps," Schlegel said. "My parents were always very supportive. I am the one who decided to play and get involved and they were the ones who were always behind me."

Along with her mom and dad, Schlegel has a 22-year-old sister as well as a 15-year-old brother whom she enjoys spending time with. This is one reason why she chose to go to Buffalo instead of another university.

"Being close to home was not really something that I thought would be important, but over the past year and a half it has become something that is really nice," Schlegel said. "My parents can come to everything and I can go home whenever I want."

Other than the location, there were many different aspects that influenced Schlegel's college decision, including the fact that Buffalo had a Division-I volleyball program.

She also lists the academics as a huge reason. Schlegel came to Buffalo undecided, but eventually found the business program to be her best fit.

"Buffalo has a [business] program that is good for me," she said. "I didn't know what my major was going to be, so I chose Buffalo because it had a lot of different options."

Since she is so interested in different kinds of sports, Schlegel has a hard time imagining life without being active on a sport team.

"If I didn't play volleyball in college, I would definitely pursue . . . either basketball or softball," Schlegel said. "I don't know which one I would choose, though, because I stopped playing both of them the same time that I started to get more involved with volleyball."

While Schlegel is only a sophomore, she shows much promise for Buffalo's volleyball program. As a freshman, she played in all 110 games as Buffalo's primary setter. She was even named the "Top Newcomer" by her team.

At the end of the day, head coach Jim Lodes feels that Schlegel will be making an impact on the team for seasons to come.

"Lindsey will be able to lead on the court, as she is highly respected by all of her teammates," said Lodes in a press release. "She has a dynamic personality that draws people to her."