Natalia Bascunan, NHS senior
Volleyball team
What got you interested in playing volleyball?
Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by sports players which led me to be a diverse and well-rounded athlete. I’ve played baseball, softball and volleyball. Although I had different passions in my youth, as I grew older, I soon found a new passion … volleyball. My volleyball career started when I was in the fourth grade where I played for a local recreational team. Volleyball was a sport that had always grasped my interest and I never thought I would love a sport as much as I do volleyball, until I started playing. While realizing my passion for the sport, I decided to then take the next step and join a club volleyball team. This had a tremendous impact on my development as a player because I was able to play in the off season and work on my setting skills. While going the extra mile, I’ve continuously grown into the player and leader that I am today.
Are there any on-court memories that stick in your mind?
Due to having an immense amount of memories while playing the sport I love, there isn’t a particular memory that sticks out above all the others. Of course, participating in fun and important events like the fundraiser for Breast Cancer awareness, Dig Pink, is something I’ll always remember the fun we had together while playing in that game. It’s the moments that happen on the court that you can never get back which stick with you forever, especially when playing as a senior. However, constantly being with my teammates, motivating one another and endlessly supporting each other is something that can never be forgotten nor taken away from us. We grew to not only be a team, but to be a family. Our unbreakable bond that we’ve created is a memory that I’ll cherish forever.
Do you have any lucky rituals before a match?
Although I do not have any lucky rituals before a match, I do have a specific warm up routine where I do sets of exercises for a specific amount of reps. This warm-up routine entails my partner and I tossing the ball a certain amount of times and practice my bumping, setting, and spiking. We typically do 2 to 4 reps each before we are ready to go. Prior to every game, we stick to the same pattern and number of reps due to it being a superstition of mine. While doing my warm up routine, I also like to listen to rap amongst other motivational music that will get me into the game zone and hyped up.
How do you bond with your teammates?
My teammates and I are constantly together throughout our season where we bond on and off the court. Whether we are having a pasta party the night before a game, blasting and singing along to songs in the car as we drop everyone off, or getting dinner after what seems to be a long practice, we are always together – laughing and enjoying each other’s company. This year especially is such a great group of girls because we are all so close and truly do love one another. I couldn’t ask for a better team or a better bond than I have with all these girls and I’ll always have their back.
What are you doing for fun these days?
I’ve realized that my time in high school is precious, therefore these days I’ve decided to take every moment I can to hangout with my friends and create the best memories yet before our senior year is over. When people say that time goes by fast, no one ever believes them until you, yourself, reach a point in your life where you feel that time really did go by fast. As I look around, I finally understand what everyone has been saying. This especially hits hard with volleyball because I am currently playing some of my last few games with the girls that I have been doing this forever with. That is why I make sure to make the most out of it that I possibly can, most importantly having fun while doing it.
Who are your role models? How come?
Coming from a loving and supportive family, I can’t honestly say I have one role model in particular. My family, especially my parents, are my No. 1 supporters and have showed me along with all the sports I’ve chosen to play, unconditional love. Not only all of the time I have put in myself, they as well have contributed to my journey as an athlete. It is because of them, that I am the player, person and captain that I am today … I truly owe it all to my family.
Senior year at NHS! What kind of post grad plans are you working on?
My post grad plans will be attending a four-year college in hopes of possibly pursuing a career within the medical field. The medical field has always held my interest because I would love to be able to help the life of another person. In the future I hope to become a nurse; this way I can perhaps play an important role in the lives of others. It would be an honor to make a difference in another person’s life, as I can say it has for myself in the past due to the amazing nurses I was given who saved my life.
Is there something about you that people might be surprised to learn?
Something that most people don’t know about me is that I’ve had two open-heart surgeries. Due to this I’ve had to give up several sports in the past, but it hasn’t stopped me from playing the sport I love most, volleyball. Although I face many challenges day to day, I thank my coach and teammates who support me everyday on and off the court. This is something I typically don’t mention because I don’t allow it to be an aspect that defines me nor do I want people to feel sorry for me. I like to use it rather as my motive, a reminder to always appreciate what you have, and I never will take that for granted.
I am extremely thankful to be in the position I am in, able to participate in such an amazing sport because not every person who has experienced what I have can say the same. Despite the difficulties I may face, what I have overcome makes me the hard-working, persevering person that I am, and it has taught me that passion and drive are much stronger than any obstacle I may face in life.
“Natalia is a great overall player. She is our setter. She works hard
every single day and has a great attitude. She is one of my captains and is really great at keeping the team upbeat and positive. She battled back after being sick for a couple of weeks and returned to playing. She was missed very much both on and off the court when she was sick because of what a big influencer she is.”
– Head coach Jenna Rubino
NUTLEY FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH added by Joe Ragozzino on
View all posts by Joe Ragozzino →