There was a time when Marisa Guan tried just about every sport and quietly walked away from most of them. Ballet, gymnastics, soccer, tennis—none of it stuck, and none of it felt right. What she remembers most isn’t competition, but frustration, the feeling that maybe she just hadn’t found her “thing” yet. That changed one summer day watching her dad play volleyball on a neighborhood sand court, when, as she puts it, “my eyes finally lit up.”
She showed up to her first volleyball clinic at eleven years old with no experience and very little confidence. “I was discombobulated, clumsy, and awkward,” she said, laughing. “But the coaches welcomed me right away.” What started as curiosity quickly turned into something more serious. “I loved playing so much that I decided I wanted to play in college,” she said. “That’s when I started caring about getting extra reps in and becoming the best player I could be.”
At the same time, something else started to change. Marisa had always been introverted, someone who avoided attention and kept to herself. Volleyball forced that to change. Coaches pushed her to call the ball, to celebrate points, to bring energy to her team. “I realized I had the most fun and performed the best when I was showing my excitement,” she said. “The people around me showed me it wasn’t embarrassing to be yourself.” Over time, that shift stuck. Confidence followed her off the court and into school, where speaking up and meeting new people became easier and more natural. Her teachers even commented on how she had come out of her shell.
That is also when leadership started to show up. Not because she was trying to lead, but because teammates began to trust her. “I realized I was a leader when my teammates would come to me when they were struggling,” she said. “On and off the court.” That trust shaped how she sees her role. For Marisa, leadership is less about being the loudest voice and more about being consistent. “It means still looking out for others and setting a good example, even when no one is watching.”
When the pandemic took away practices and structure, she had to find her own way to improve. She built a routine, trained alone, and learned how to stay motivated without a team around her. “It taught me that real improvement comes from showing up every day, even when no one is watching,” she said.
Her experiences beyond playing only reinforced that mindset. In the summer of 2024 Marisa gave volleyball lessons to local kids in the neighborhood, adapting skills and activities that she had learned to match the various skill levels of the younger children she was leading. Coaching younger athletes taught her how to communicate in ways that actually reach people. “Not everyone responds to the same feedback,” she said. “Being adaptable is what makes you successful.” It is a lesson she plans to carry with her as she continues her career.
Ask her what she will remember most about the Pennsylvania volleyball community, and it isn’t wins or titles. It’s the people. “The first things that come to mind aren’t the championships,” she said. “It’s the coaches and players, the nights in hotel rooms, getting DoorDash after late games, just being with my teammates.” Those moments, she says, are what made the experience meaningful. Moments like former coaches still checking in years after she played for them.
Now, she is preparing for what comes next at Case Western Reserve University, where she will continue her volleyball career. Her goals are simple. “I want to be a fun teammate that brings energy and support,” she said. “I’m excited to build relationships and make new friends.”
Looking back now, it’s hard to recognize the player she once was. What volleyball gave her goes beyond skill or opportunity. “It gave me confidence and a sense of belonging,” she said. And that is something she knows will carry with her, wherever she goes next. Her journey reflects what makes Pennsylvania volleyball special—growth, connection, and showing up for each other, every day.
Volleyball didn’t just change how she played—it changed who she became. And that’s what will stay with her long after the final point.
