Senior Rachel Frye’s last semester at Behrend has been nothing short of spectacular. From winning an AMCC Title to playing in the NCAA Tournament, Behrend’s right side hitter has really accomplished a lot in her Behrend playing career. Frye has been a 1st and 2nd team All-AMCC Selection, Team Captain and the recipient of the Leadership Award in her tenure with the Penn State Behrend Women’s Volleyball Team. To say that Frye has found success on the volleyball court is truly an understatement. However, what many people may not know about Rachel is just how successful she is off of the court as well.

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Rachel Frye, a 2014 graduate of Kiski Area High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been one of the most influential members of the Behrend community in her time here. Frye is a Communications major, and she loves her major for several different reasons. “I chose Communications because I have always loved the creative side of things and there is a

lot of creativity with this major. With this major you become educated in everything from video production to the business and the marketing side of Communications.” Someone who has had a huge impact on her, and who works in the Communications field, is Jill Yamma. Yamma is the Sports Information Director for the Behrend Athletic Department, and she has had a great impact on Frye not only professionally, but also personally. “Jill has given me professional, life and athletic guidance throughout my years here at Behrend. She is someone who is able to motivate me and is also confident in my work and skills. Jill is always willing to help me with anything such as job searching, school work, etc. She has basically been a mentor for me and someone I will truly miss when I graduate.” There are two other people whom she expressed that she truly admired.

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Frye’s favorite athlete of all time is Shawn Johnson, a former United State Olympic Gymnast. “I used to do gymnastics as a kid and always looked up to her as an athlete. Although she is now retired, she is an inspirational spokeswoman who I still enjoy following on social media.” Aside from Yamma and Johnson, Frye’s mom has been the rock in her life. She spoke about how strong and unselfish her mother is, and how much she has sacrificed for the benefit of her and her sister. Even through all of the tough times, her mother was always been there for help with anything she ever needed. While others have contributed to Frye’s success, she has also relied on her own ambition and drive to accomplish her goals.

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Frye has found a lot of success within the Penn State Behrend Communication’s Department and within the Athletic Department. She has been involved with the Behrend Beacon Newspaper over the last four years. She spent time as a lifestyles and sports staff writer, and last year, she became the lifestyles editor. Frye has also been an Open House Representative for the Communications Department. As for her involvement with the Athletic Department, she has collaborated with Yamma to keep the Behrend Athletics’ social media platforms up to date. She has also worked at the front desk of the Junker Center, and added that this was something she has enjoyed quite a bit. “I truly enjoy this job because I get to interact with different people everyday inside and outside of the Athletic Department.” When speaking with Frye about what she misses about playing volleyball the most, she had a few memories to reflect on.

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“My favorite memory of all time in this sport is being coached by two very inspirational women in my middle school and high school years of volleyball. Ellen Toy and Jaime Moran were incredible coaches of mine who unfortunately lost their lives to cancer. I have many memories with each of them and am forever grateful that they had such an impact on the athlete that I am today.” Each of these women would truly be proud of the woman Frye has become, and extra proud of all of her accolades on the volleyball court at Behrend. Her favorite memory as a Behrend student athlete was winning the AMCC Championship this season. “We played so hard as a team in the championship match, but had a moment where we thought it might be over late in the fourth set. We were able to turn it around and I cannot even begin to explain the feeling I felt when we scored game point and celebrated on the court as a team.” Winning an AMCC Title as a senior is a perfect ending to any Behrend sports career, and that is exactly the way Frye is able to depart.

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Frye will graduate in just 10 short days. She plans on participating in the Behrend alumni volleyball games soon, as well as coming to watch the men’s team play several times this spring. She will be returning home to Pittsburgh to begin her career, and likely without question, Rachel Frye is on her way to a very successful career in the Communications field.