UV-bound: Brownsville junior Gates commits to Virginia for volleyball
Skyler Gates turned a lot of heads playing for Brownsville’s girls volleyball team last season, one that left NCAA Division-1 schools hot on her trail.
“Skyler had such a great sophomore year,” Lady Falcons head coach Rachael Salvucci said. “She got her 500th career kill and she ended up with around 154 blocks.
“I definitely knew big things were coming for her.”
Gates fielded offers from several schools but when the University of Virginia showed interest she listened intently.
Not long after attending a volleyball camp at the ACC school located in Charlottesville, the 16-year-old, 6-foot-4 junior made her college decision to commit to the Cavaliers.
“I had a few schools interested in me, like UMBC in Baltimore, Utah, Arizona State and the University of Alabama-Birmingham,” Gates said. “I was on the phone with all those schools. I’m only a junior so I had two extra years and I didn’t know if I wanted to wait or just commit.
“The more I thought about it, I said I’m ready.”
One of the key reasons she was swayed to choose Virginia was her experience at the Virginia volleyball camp.
“Virginia sent me a questionnaire and I answered it,” Gates recalled. “Then they just started sending me things through the mail. On June 15 they were finally allowed to reach out to me so we got on a call then.”
Gates was invited to come to a volleyball camp on June 27 at the Virginia campus and felt she performed fairly well.
“I had a lot of fun and thought I made a good impression,” Gates said. “They told me I was quick to learn things and easy to teach, very coachable. So I thought it went real well.”
She made enough of an impact where Virginia head coach Shannon Wells called Gates directly the day after the camp to offer her a scholarship.
“Shannon got on the phone with me and she asked me how do you want to do this and I said I probably would want to go on a campus visit first,” Gates said.
Gates set up a visit but then decided she didn’t really need the second trip to make her decision.
“The more I thought about it, I really did like the school, so I had my dad (Ricky Gates) reach out to her and I told her that I was ready to commit.
“At the camp I got to see some of the campus, like where they play their basketball games, I got to go in Memorial Gymnasium where the volleyball team plays. I got to see the baseball field and the football field, too, and then I got to see a few of the buildings. I got to go into the dorms and the main food court. I got to see a little bit of the Corner (a popular area for students that includes restaurants, bookstores, bars and other businesses).”
The proximity of the school also influenced Gates’ decision.
“It was definitely a factor,” Gates admitted. “I wanted to get away from home but not too far. I’m close enough where if I need something my dad can be there.”
Gates, who also plays volleyball for Rise, a club team located in Morgantown, West Virginia, is relieved to get the recruiting process out of the way.
“It’s kind of good to get it done because now I don’t have to worry about it any more,” Gates said. “It makes it a lot easier.
“My dad definitely was happy with my decision and my Uncle Mark (Gates) was probably the most excited out of them all. He just texted me actually not too long ago.”
Gates isn’t about to rest on her laurels now that her college future has been decided.
“I definitely want to keep improving,” Gates said. “Mostly, I want to get faster on my blocking and I also want to work on serving in back row so that I can be kind of an all-around player.”
Right now Gates is concentrating on playing for the Lady Falcons, whose first official day of practice was on Monday.
Salvucci has been with the program for 17 years, including eight as the head coach. She is in her second year of her second stint as head coach and said Gates is one of the best players she’s seen at Brownsville.
“The thing about Skyler is she’s such a presence on the court and she has such a great attitude,” Salvucci said. “She is always positive. She’s always encouraging of others. Even though she dominates, she never makes it about her. That’s what I love about her. She doesn’t get mad, she doesn’t get upset. She realizes there are five other people on the court and they have to work together as a team.
“It’s really been inspiring to watch her. She’s grown physically and maturity-wise. She’s starting to plan her future now and she’s aware of the seriousness of that. I know playing D-I was a dream of hers and I’m so happy for her. She deserves this.
“She’s a great player and a great person.”