Name: Stephanie Kubiak
Nickname: Kubiak or Vaughn
Age: 32
Hometown: Sheffield Lake, OH
Resides: Erie, PA
Height: 5’10”
College: Ohio State University (Bachelors of Arts); Gannon University (Masters of Science)
Did you play volleyball in college? Yes, I played indoor (middle hitter and libero) at Ashland University for 2years.
How long have you been playing beach? 15 Years
Why is beach volleyball your sport of choice? Beach volleyball is such an amazing sport in so many different ways. I love the challenge; this game forces you to be a good all-around volleyball player, mentally sound, and in excellent physical shape to be effective. In order to be successful you have to be able to serve receive, pass, play defense, hit, shoot, block, stay mentally tough, and so much more. It’s a game that is really difficult to master, it’s not like indoor volleyball where you can be a middle hitter and that is the one thing you have to be good at to make your team successful. To make your team (you and your partner) successful, both players have to be strong at every single aspect of the game. This year I have been fortunate to play at a higher level of competition where these amazing teams really challenge my strengths and can pick out my weaknesses, it motivates me and inspires me to get better for the next time I compete against them.
Favorite career moment so far in beach volleyball? This year has been pretty amazing, it is hard to pick out one moment. I can give my top 3 – including winning a Lakeview Beach Tournament in Lorain, OH in June 2016. This is the first place I touched a beach volleyball and absolutely fell in love and became addicted to the game, ironically it was 14 years to the day I started playing that I won the tournament.
2- Qualifying and playing in the main draw of The National Volleyball League in Virginia Beach, VA with my partner Katie Yanesh.
3- Being a part of the Extreme Volleyball Professionals tour along the East Coast this year and taking a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th place during the tour.
Favorite pro player? Why? Todd Rodgers “The Professor” because he is a defensive machine and I aspire to make defense look as easy as he makes it look. Without defense there can be no offense!
What other tours have you played on? National Volleyball League (NVL) and Extreme Volleyball Professionals (EVP)
Next beach volleyball goal you have set for yourself? Make the main draw for the NVL and place in the top 10. Win a Chaos Beach Volleyball Tournament.
