MADISON- Paola Delgado Ramirez once had thoughts of giving up her efforts in her favorite sport of volleyball. Like many high school athletes, the Bob Jones senior seemed to feel she may not be up-to-par in her athletic craft and contemplated hanging up her volleyball uniform.

“At one time I thought maybe the next level was not for me, so I actually began looking at other plans for my future,” said Ramirez, senior team captain for the Patriots in 2020.

At 5-foot-5, 145-pounds, Ramirez is not your typical tall volleyball player, but her gutsy and energetic efforts on the court are many times the highlight of a Patriots’ winning point or match. Struggling to face the stagnant time through the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Ramirez was attending a camp just prior to her senior season and all seemed to be going well as she was anxious about her play in her senior season. While attending that pre-season camp a college coach made their way to speak with Ramirez, as she described, “The coach told me I was a complete athlete and player. At that moment, I felt I could move from high school to college playing volleyball.”

Her persistence paid off as Ramirez sat down with her parents, Luis and Jessica, and her seven-year old brother, Sebastian, and signed an athletic scholarship to play volleyball in college for the Bisons of Southern Union State Community College located in Wadley, Ala.

Ramirez wants to study nursing in college following in her mother’s footsteps as she, too, is a nurse. Ramirez will attend Southern Union with a 3.5 grade point average.

“I love the sport and how it’s about teamwork, a whole team it takes to win,” added Ramirez. “I feel I’m competitive and intelligent and I know I’m a very good vocal leader.”

Growing up in Puerto Rico, her family moved to Madison in her eighth grade school year and she continued pursuing volleyball after giving up basketball and track. Progressing through her years of volleyball she was contacted by several schools about playing in college before she chose to play for the Bisons.

“I received a text message telling me Southern Union wanted me,” said Ramirez. “Maybe God wanted me to not quit and to play in college.”