She Takes Volleyball Personally

When it comes to volleyball, Amanda Siler is intense, passionate and focused.

A senior setter and co-captain on the La Habra High girls’ team, Siler takes her sport very seriously.

“Volleyball is very personal for me,” Siler said. “When I step on the court, I just want to win so bad that I let my emotions take over.”

Highlander Coach Troy Abbey said he appreciates Siler’s never-say-die attitude. “Her teammates seem to feed off of her emotion,” he said. “She’s a leader.”

Co-captain Suzanne Andrade, a senior who has played alongside Siler for three years, is accustomed to her teammate’s intensity.

“She puts us in our place but does it compassionately,” Andrade said. “She encourages us and helps us improve. She takes it very seriously and we all know she’s out here to win.”

But it took her soccer coach, when she was in the seventh grade, to push her toward volleyball. Siler said her coach noticed her height and athletic ability and suggested volleyball might better suit her.

She played volleyball during physical education classes in school, then tried out for the Ichiban Club team in Long Beach. She has continued to play club volleyball in the off-season, jumping from team to team before recently settling back with Ichiban.

Siler made La Habra’s varsity team as a freshman and has been its primary setter the last three seasons. At 5 feet 11 and left-handed, she is the prototype for her position.

“Amanda is just a solid overall player. Every aspect of her game is excellent,” Abbey said.

Siler ranks among the county’s best setters and has led La Habra to an 8-1 record, 3-0 in the Freeway League.

Last season, Siler was the league’s player of the year. Recently, she was named MVP of the Inland Valley tournament, won by La Habra.

“I just keep working hard and try to get better so I can succeed at the next level,” she said.

Siler’s next stop will be Santa Clara. She made an oral commitment at the end of September.

Though she was also recruited by Long Beach State, San Francisco and Oklahoma, Siler believes Coach Annie Feller’s program at Santa Clara best suits her lifestyle.

“I wanted to go to a small school in California,” Siler said. “Coach Feller is a wonderful lady and she’s very intense. I feel that I will learn a lot from her.”

Abbey said Santa Clara was a good choice for Siler. “I think the benefits will be mutual in this decision,” he said. “Both Santa Clara and Amanda will become better.”

Abbey said he would not be surprised if Feller took advantage of Siler’s size, strength and versatility by moving her to outside hitter.

Siler said she doesn’t expect to switch positions but would do what was best for everyone concerned.

“I’m sure I could handle [changing positions],” she said. “And as long as it helped the team win, I would be all for it.”

Siler fully expects to have success at the college level but doesn’t want to make plans to play professionally. Her immediate goals? To make the all-conference team at Santa Clara, earn a degree in liberal arts, then become an elementary school teacher.

“I do want to get better, but I’m not sure I would want to play after college,” she said. “I have to see how I adjust to the competition and I don’t really want to think about that too far in advance.”

If she can’t play for pay, Siler said she would be satisfied coaching a 12-and-under girls’ volleyball team. “I love kids and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”