FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's volleyball team enjoyed their summer with family, friends, trips and work before starting the 2014 fall season. The team recounted their favorite moments over their free time and chose a summer hit to summarize their vacation.
 
Candice Johnson (Sr., Chuluota, Florida.)
 
Family and work filled Candice Johnson's time over the summer as she spent it working as a nanny while taking two summer classes. However, she made time for her family who continued their tradition of lobstering in the keys. One of her fondest memories of the summer was created in the trip: "My sister and I were going paddleboarding in the keys and I was trying to be a cool kid and stand on one leg without the paddle. Instead, I fell in the water when my mom was taking our picture." With family, work and adventure, Johnson learned, "Sometimes life doesn't always take you to where you want to go, but your family and friends are there to support you all the way."
  
 
Samantha Blasko (Fr., Ocala, Florida)
 
In between animals, family and traveling, Samantha Blasko had an eventful summer. Her trips included a tour behind the scenes of Chase Field with her uncle; amusement parks; zoos; a carnival; a circus; and family visits to Arizona and Wisconsin. All of the events came together for one of her favorite memories: "When we went to Six Flags, my littlest sister wanted to ride the carousel and after she meticulously picked out her horse, she proceeded to ride it, side-saddled with perfect posture and a straight face the entire time. It was definitely a sight to see." The picture is posted below. Blasko's adventures taught her a lesson that she will keep for the remainder of the year: "I learned that it is a really good idea to branch out and try new things because you never know what could happen."
 
Summer Hit: "Put You in a Song" – Keith Urban
 


Sydney Cook (Jr., Miami)
 
Sydney Cook was always on the run in the summer, including a seven-day cruise that stopped in Labadee, Haiti, Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico. She also fed the homeless and experienced Beyoncé and Jay-Z's "On The Run" tour. On their cruise, Cook and her family created a new memory by climbing Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica: "Although climbing up slippery rocks 180 feet high with freezing cold water constantly rushing at you sounds scary, we conquered it." Despite her busy summer, words by Kevin Durant stuck with Cook that she will keep for the rest of the season: "Hard work beats talent with talent fails to work hard."
 
Summer Hit: "Part II (On the Run)" – Jay Z ft. Beyoncé
 
Brandi Marquis (Fr., Lynn, Indiana)
 
Over the summer, Brandi Marquis spent time with her family and friends. Her summer also included horses and a week spent in Fort Myers with her boyfriend. During her summer, Marquis learned, "Don't take anything for granted, because it could be gone forever or for a really long time."
 
Summer Hit: "Beachin'" – Jake Owen
 
 
Courtney Crawford (Jr., Brooksville, Florida)
 
Unfortunately, Courtney Crawford was sick over the summer but she did find time to go fishing. A new sister memory was created in one of their fishing trips, as every time the sisters went fishing, Crawford's little sister caught a catfish while Crawford was left hanging. Despite being limited in activities, Crawford did learn a valuable lesson for the upcoming season: Get plenty of rest.
 
Summer Hit: "Just Fishin'" – Trace Atkins
 
 
Natalie Melcher (R-Fr., Rishon Letzion, Israel)
 
Natalie Melcher mainly spent her time with friends, family and at the beach. She also enjoyed reading and watching movies. Her favorite summer reads were "Inferno" by Dan Brown and "The Art of Intelligence" by Henry A. Crumpton. Her favored summer movie was "22 Jump Street. "It's an awesome movie!" she said.  With the current conflicts going on in Melcher's home country of Israel, she learned, "Life is short and you never know when it might end. The lesson I'm taking into the new season is to live day by day and make each day count."
 
Summer Hit: "A Sky Full of Stars" – Coldplay
 
Ashlyn Hill (Fr., Plano, Texas)
 
Preparing for Nova Southeastern University, Ashlyn Hill trained with Robert Brown and helped coach the Dallas Premier Youth teams. As she made plans to meet with her family, a memory was unexpectedly made as her family, all arriving separately, wore the same NSU Volleyball t-shirt for lunch, "Great minds think alike?" Hill rationalized. While coaching the 15 Red Steve at Dallas Premier, she learned, "Anything can be accomplished if you want it badly enough."
 
Summer Hit: "You're My Best Friend" – Queen
 
 
Devyn Main (Fr., Port Chartlotte, Florida)
 
Devyn Main spent her time with friends and traveling with family. Main visited her dad in Texas where they went to Six Flags, downtown Austin, paddleboarding and went to Blue Springs with her family. In their adventures, an awkward moment created a great story: "In one night at the beach, we were swimming and my friend was stung by a jellyfish. So to treat it, someone had to pee on her!" Main shared. She also made it a point to share was not the person who did it. With the combination of her friends and the jellyfish story Main learned, "Inside jokes are what makes best friends!"
 
Summer Hit: "Leave the Night On" – Sam Hunt
 
Caitlin Donahue (Jr., Miami)
 
Caitlin Donahue spent her summer in Panama City Beach, Florida, playing beach volleyball, practicing yoga, longboarding and paddleboarding. One of her favorite moments is when her boyfriend and she rode the slingshot together: "He was experiencing it for the first time and let's just say, it was one hilarious video." Unfortunately we do not have the video, but overall Donahue did learn a valuable lesson for the upcoming year. Donahue says, "The biggest lesson I learned is that many things in life cannot be forced and that some of the most beautiful and rewarding things in life emerge with patience and devotion. Let your love flow to where the beautiful things are and beautiful will always come your way."
 
Summer Hit: "Three Little Birds" – Bob Marley and the Wailers
 
 
Dana Holger (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minnesota)
 
Dana Holger spent her summer playing beach and indoor volleyball, kayaking, biking and studying for her PCAT. Her family and she had an unfortunate story, where "we drove our hours away for a fishing trip and never caught a fish." Despite her luck, Holger did learn over the summer, "The more work you put in, the more luck you seem to have."
 
Summer Hit: "Paradise" – Coldplay
 
  
Victoria Jones (R-Fr., Ocala, Florida)
 
Over the summer, Victoria Jones spent time with family, worked as a tutor and trained for the season. Jones had a special first day of work experience: "The summer I had my first paying job, I was supposed to clock in. The only problem? I was a week early," said Jones. Heading into the new season, Jones was reminded of the value of selflessness: "This is a lesson that I hope I will carry over not just into this season and academic year, but will stay with me throughout my life."

Summer Hit: "We Are Family" – Sister Sledge
 

Kaelyn Brock (Fr., La Quinta, California)
 
Kaelyn Brock spent most of the season going to the beach with her family and boyfriend. She competed in three volleyball tournaments and even won one. She also had a job, working with her mom. Her mom and she found time beyond work to go to beach and created a funny story together: "I was at the beach with my family and boyfriend and while we were in the water, I begged my mom to come in the water. After an hour, she got in and I turned around and couldn't find her. She later than rose out of the water because she fell into a little ditch." In her adventures, Brock learned, "Change is hard, but I'm learning to and I'm willing to grow as an individual."
 
Summer Hit: "Beachin'" – Jake Owen
 
Katie Pyles (So., Denver, Colorado)
 
Katie Pyles lived in Hermosa Beach, California over the summer where she played on the U-21 USA beach volleyball national team. She had the opportunity to travel to various places like California and to Arizona to compete. After her tournaments, Pyles ended her summer back home in Colorado to visit family. In a random turn of events, Pyles also ended up playing with Leinani Keanini in California, a good friend of NSU head coach Jenn King. In competing and traveling she learned, "Not everyday is going to be your best day, that is just how sports go. You have to either learn and grow from those off days or you have to learn to let them go. Either way, don't let them drag you down because it's going to happen, whether you like it or not."

Summer Hit: "Riptide" – Vance Joy
 
For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by clicking here.

Tweet #GoNSUSharks