FAIRVIEW, Ala. — Fairview senior Ava Calvarese graduated in May after an impressive high school playing career and, in this interview, she shared some of her favorite memories from her time spent on and off the court.
“One would have to be when we won county my freshman year on JV. That was a great team, and we had amazing chemistry. Another time would have to be this past season when we beat our area rival, Guntersville, in five sets on our home court. It was a hard-fought game, and it showed how bad we worked to win it together,” Calvarese said. “It was really nice to have teammates that supported you. I leaned on them whenever I’d make a mistake, and we always fought back hard, no matter what. We’d always have a good time on and off the court. I learned how to be a good teammate, how to handle myself in tough situations, and how many lasting connections you can make through a sport that you love.”
Ava played for multiple coaches during her prep career and gained valuable experience from each of them. She will deeply miss playing at Fairview next season.
“We had a lot of coaching changes throughout our seasons, but our teams always found a way to make the best of it, no matter what,” Calvarese said. “I will definitely miss the connections I made throughout the years. Most of the people I played with will always have a special place in my heart and have made me a better person. I will also miss our very supportive community, whether it was each other’s parents or classmates. They were always loud and showed pride for us.”
Ava talked about her favorite high school memory, what made Fairview a special place to go to school and what she will remember the most about being an Aggie.
“Homecoming was always every year, but especially senior year. Being on the homecoming court and being able to do all the activities with my friends was a great memory that I won’t forget,” she said. “What made Fairview a special place to go to was the school spirit. Everyone had to be there. Even from an early age, everyone would look forward to the pep rallies and getting to cheer on our school. I will remember all the connections I made, whether it was with classmates or with teachers, because every interaction I have had made me the person I am today.”
She gave some advice to those students that will be starting high school in August and talked about not only being a role model for younger people, but who her role models were in school and in sports.
“My advice to them is to always take opportunities that are given to you and do everything that you can to get involved with school. Don’t take your time in school for granted,” she said. “It is very important, because you never know when someone is watching what you’re doing, and it could have an impact on how younger kids approach certain situations in high school. My role model was definitely Reagan Dunkin. She is a positive influence on and off the court. Everyone is always having fun when they’re around her. She has impacted many people around me and never fails to make them laugh. Some other teammates that I look up to are Laci Segrest, Abby McDonald, and Jacie Blackwood. They all have had their personal struggles with volleyball, but they always work so hard to overcome them. They put in so much effort and support to the team.”
Ava earned a scholarship to play volleyball at Wallace State Community College and talked about building relationships with her future teammates and coaches. She also gave some advice to the people who want to be where she is right now.
“It was great. I really felt the support from my family and friends. It was accomplishing as well, and my hard work paid off. Going to Wallace State, it was a comfortable atmosphere and familiar, because I had played with some of the girls. Everyone was so welcoming and had great attitudes,” she said. “What I want people to remember about me is that no matter what, I tried to have a positive outlook on the court and have a good attitude, no matter who we were playing or how we were playing. My advice to them is to never overlook any opportunities you are given, and it’s never too late to achieve what you want. Hard work is the main priority of your dreams.”
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