Desiree Frey '18 has stayed in the Shreveport community following graduation. While a student-athlete on the Ladies Volleyball team (2014-17), she finished second in the career record books in both kills (1156) and digs (1159). In a season year that featured 401 kills and 407 digs, she became Centenary's first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference honoree and was also named Second Team All-Louisiana by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Following graduation, she was hired as the head volleyball coach at C.E. Byrd High School. Frey started June 1, jumping right in to tryouts and summer workouts.
What about your experience as a former Centenary student-athlete has helped you the most?
Being a student-athlete at Centenary has given me many connections not only through the athletic department, but throughout the community. Being a student-athlete can open many doors, but being a student-athlete in such a tight-knit community can open a lot more!
How has Centenary and your experiences prepared you for where you are today?
I don't know that anything can truly prepare you for being out of college and into the world, but if there is one thing that I learned being at Centenary, it is that you have to be ready for what life throws at you. There were bumps in the road that I never thought that I could get past, but my four years growing at Centenary showed me the blessings in every situation.
What do you miss most about Centenary and being a student-athlete?
I miss the family aspect of the athletes at Centenary. There was always this certain level of respect between the athletes. We all understood the long days and nights we have had to endure in being a collegiate student-athlete. That being said, I know that every student-athlete at Centenary was there for the love of their sport, and that is very much respected.
What is one thing a high school student-athlete considering college needs to know?
The advice I have would have is to go with your gut feeling because it is always the right choice. Too many times, students pick their college based on their friends, or popularity, or size of the institution. At the end of the day, it is about where you feel comfortable and where you can get the best education possible. Being a student-athlete is no easy task, so when making your decision, choose the school where the faculty and athletic administration can really guide you and support you to be a student first and an athlete second.
Identify and describe a favorite memory or experience while at Centenary.
My favorite memory while at Centenary was when I made history at the Gold Dome by becoming the first Ladies Volleyball player to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in their career. The atmosphere and amount of love and support I received from our fans was unmatched.
