SLIPPERY ROCK — When Virginia Recchia was a young girl, she dabbled in many sports.

Basketball. Swimming. Soccer.

They didn't pique her interest.

One sport did, however.

Volleyball.

Recchia found she was a natural at it. The skills came easily to her and the love for the sports began to grow and blossom all the way back in the third grade.

Now a sophomore, Recchia has put her eclectic skills on display during two standout seasons for the Slippery Rock High volleyball team.

This season, she recorded 272 assists and also had 239 digs — unusually high numbers in both categories.

But that's been Recchia's calling card in volleyball.

Whatever it takes to succeed.

“I think I have a lot of motivation when I step out on the court,” said Recchia, a sophomore. “I want to win.”

Recchia played for the eighth-grade volleyball team when she was still in the seventh grade, so it was no surprise when she became a starter from the get-go as a freshman.

Last year, Recchia record 357 assists and 208 digs.

The schedule was shortened this season because of COVID-19.

With 629 assists already in her young career, Recchia is well on the way to achieving one of her big individual goals: a 1,000 career assists.

Ironically, Recchia is more comfortable getting down on the court for digs and passes than setting.

“I think passing come a lot easier to me than sets,” Recchia said.

That may be because of Recchia's makeup.

Slippery Rock coach Danielle Busi said Recchia displays a lot of grit on the court.

“She's a great athlete and a hustler,” Busi said. “A great combo.”

Recchia plays for Thunder Volleyball during club season.

This campaign was wiped out because of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced Recchia to improvise when it came to her volleyball training.

She said it has been incredibly difficult.

“I don't think I have adapted yet,” Recchia said. “It's been really hard.”

Recchia filled the time without volleyball by going for long walks and exercising as much as she could away from the court.

When high school season began, she was incredibly relieved.

“I was just happy we got to finish it,” she said.

Recchia said her long-term goal is to play volleyball in college.

She already has a career path in mind: forensic accounting.

Her mother, Laurie, is an accountant.

“I don't hate math,” Recchia said, tempering her love for mathematics. “But the stuff we do with numbers (at my mom's work) is nothing like what we do in school.”

Recchia is focused now on improving her volleyball skills.

She is hopeful club season will resume and she can continue to hone her eclectic skills.

“I'm going to work on myself,” Recchia said. “Try to get better and help everyone around me.”