![Who has Maryland government’s biggest paychecks and payrolls? Browse and search the state’s 2020 compensation records. [DATA]](https://www.baltimoresun.com/resizer/vQ1GHUMCVhqqLv_PIf2sbLwlQbQ=/64x64/top/www.baltimoresun.com/resizer/BzOfYiJ517rgrIkzddS5qGVfteA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/HCGYW6PNZBH65J6W6L6SGXVP2U.jpg)
The aspiring journalist isn't shy about expressing her opinions, and spent part of her summer on a mission to Costa Rica. And you'll seldom find her too far away from General Lee, her 3-foot python.
Tracey, 5 feet 6, also a standout in basketball and softball, is gearing up to lead the No. 15 Eagles into the Class 2A West playoffs.
You play three sports. Is there something that stands out in your mind to make volleyball special?
I guess it has a lot to do with being a setter and making things happen on the court. The setter touches the ball on every play, so it has a lot to do with being that involved in it and knowing that I have a big part in whether we win or lose.
Have you always been a setter?
Yes, ever since I started playing, which was when I was about 13. The position was open at the time and I sort of stepped in and said I would try it out. It just sort of naturally came to me.
Your game has really evolved over the years, to the point now where you can really do a lot of things other than just set the ball. Is that something you've spent a lot of time working on?
My main focus is setting, but I really like to hit, so I've tried to work on that, too. After a while of not being able to slam the ball, it sort of builds up. Then I just have this urge to go and hit the [heck] out of it.
This past summer, you were part of volleyball and basketball teams that traveled to Costa Rica on a mission. How did that come about for you?
I got in touch with a [Christian] school in Florida -- Palm Beach Atlantic -- and their volleyball coach sent me papers [about it]. It was a missions trip, so we went down and there were two teams of players to play volleyball, and a basketball team that I also played on. In the morning, we would go to orphanages and girls homes, and we would talk to them and share the gospel. We brought them food and clothing, and just got really close to the Costa Ricans. Then in the evenings, we would go and play volleyball. It was a really good tool to preach God's word.
Do you think the people appreciated what you tried to do for them?
Oh my gosh, it was amazing. We would walk in there and people who we obviously didn't even know would come up running, give us hugs and tell us about how happy they were that we were there. They were very, very appreciative.
What did you take away from that trip as a player?
Well, that's when I really got the urge to start hitting. I played outside [hitter] the whole time, because there was a shortage of outside hitters. I finally got my steps down.
You've talked about playing at the next level. Any idea what you'd like to study in college?
I'm looking into journalism. For a while it was psychology, but this past year I really got into writing. I like being able to express myself through words. They're my thoughts and my opinions, so I can't be wrong. I'm very opinionated, and I like to share that.
With all the sports you play, you can't have much time for writing. Do you express yourself in other ways?
I'd say people think of me as very outspoken. I like to debate and get my point across, and then continue to support that. I make my opinions pretty well known.
Does being so outspoken help you in your role as a leader on the volleyball team?
Definitely it does, because there are two different types of leaders. There's the introvert leader, who shows leadership through their play, then there's the extrovert, who also shows it through their intensity. That's what I'd like to think of myself as -- more of an extrovert.
Tell me about your pet snake.
His name is the General Lee, like from The Dukes of Hazzard. I've had him for two or three years now. He's a ball python, and he's about 3 feet [long] now. He should get up to 6 1/2 or 7 feet by the time he's older. One of my old boyfriends had a snake, and I like it, so I was like, "Mom, I want a snake." They weren't too happy about it.
Are people a little freaked out when they find out you have a snake?
Freaked out a little, maybe. I like to take him out in public with me, so it's a little scary when they see, "Oh, a girl with a snake in her bag." It's probably a little frightening unless you know me and you know that it pretty much goes with me everywhere.
What kind of places do you take him?
In the past I've always taken him to my brother's baseball games, because it's warm outside and he likes being outside. I've taken him to youth group with me. If I'm outside, like at football games, I'll have him with me. I get some looks and some comments about how weird and gross it is, but I like him.
