Hi, I’m Maddy Vega, and I am so excited to start college in the fall of 2026 at Louisiana State University, playing for their beach Volleyball team. Growing up I loved being active and outside just like my parents. My dad was a college soccer player and my mom was a pro beach volleyball player, so I was destined for sports. I never wanted to try volleyball, instead, I played every other sport imaginable and had professional and even Olympic goals for all of them. But in sixth grade, I finally tried indoor volleyball. The season was cut short due to COVID-19, but this was just the beginning of my volleyball journey. All other sports were canceled, so I started beach volleyball at Gulf Coast Volleyball Association (GCVA), playing for my mom. Although I struggled at first, I fell in love with the game, and by my freshman year of high school, I knew I wanted to take it to the next level. I worked hard, putting in extra hours on and off the court to make this dream a reality, and I can't wait to bring my passion to LSU. People always ask me why I chose beach over indoor, and I can never name just one reason. I’m so passionate about this sport. It has such an amazing environment and so many great people, but most of all, I love the challenge of having just two people on the court. It creates a positive, competitive atmosphere where you have to hold yourself accountable and constantly challenge your own limits. Beach volleyball is definitely a mental game, but I couldn't be more grateful for that, it has provided obstacles that have shaped who I am today. This sport gives me the opportunity to see my own growth, while also having fun in the sun with my friends. If you think about it, you can never really have a bad day at the beach. After college, I want to be an elementary school PE teacher, continue to coach beach volleyball, and play professionally. My biggest inspiration in this journey is my mom, who has always been my greatest role model in life. I look up to her so much because she lives life exactly how I want to and has accomplished all of my goals. I have always loved working with kids, I've volunteered at summer camps, and for the past three years I have been coaching for GCVA and giving lessons. Coaching has only continued to grow my love for the sport, to be able to inspire young athletes and see their progress is truly a privilege I never expected. This is what helped me realize I want to coach for a living. For me, beach volleyball is more than a hobby, it is a lifestyle. Having dedicated so much of my life to this sport, becoming professional would be a dream come true. Competing internationally would allow me to see the world through the sport I love, completing my dream lifestyle.