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10/14/2016 12:00 AMAdrienne DiGioia says that basketball is her main sport as she may have a future there beyond high school, but adds that volleyball might be her favorite one to play since she gets a taste of every position on the floor. This fall, the Branford senior is patrolling all ends of the volleyball court and having a great year for the Hornets, who are on the verge of once again reaching the postseason.
“I play all six positions on the floor and I don’t mind it. I do it because that’s how our team is built and that’s how we’re going to win,” says Adrienne. “I like playing all the positions. It’s hard to do because you have to be able to do everything out there. You have to serve, hit, and pass. It’s a lot, but it’s worth it. I love being out there.”
Adrienne suffered an unexpected setback when she dislocated a finger in gym class on the day of a match versus Hillhouse a few weeks ago. Branford beat the Academics that night and Adrienne has since gutted it out by playing through the injury, while helping the Hornets compile an overall record of 7-4. Even though she isn’t at 100 percent, Adrienne still gives everything she has on the court to help Branford win. Adrienne is averaging 10 kills and seven digs per match this season and had been averaging seven aces before injuring her finger.
“I knew we’d find a way to win. It was tough. I play all around, but our team found a way to win, and it felt good. I was proud of them,” she says. “[It was difficult] not being able to do the things I normally can, but I’m properly taking care of it, and hope it will fully heal soon.”
Adrienne dislocated one of the fingers on her main hitting hand and that’s resulted in her doing more setting than usual this season. Fortunately for the Hornets and their Head Coach Eva Esposito, Adrienne is skilled at every position and hasn’t missed a beat.
“As a coach, it puts you at ease because you know you can put her anywhere and she’ll do the job. She won’t ask why. She’ll just do it without a glitch and put all her effort into that new position as she did her regular position,” says Esposito. “She’s our most consistent all-around player. She’s always willing to give forth her best effort every day and those are things that, as you have an athlete like that and getting the best effort from them, you’re thankful for it.”
Adrienne is a two-time All-Oronoque volleyball player who was named one of Branford’s captains for the current campaign. Adrienne was already comfortable in the leadership position after being a junior captain for the girls’ basketball team last winter.
“I’ve always considered myself as a leader on and off the court. This year, I’ve matured into an even more positive leader,” says Adrienne. “Everybody is considered a captain to me. I may be defined as a captain, but I consider anyone a captain if they talk and help the team. We all need to have each other’s back.”
Adrienne is a point guard for Branford girls’ basketball and feels playing that position has greatly benefited her leadership abilities.
“Being a point guard is basically like being the coach on the floor,” says Adrienne. “I’ve always been taught to be a leader, to speak up, and to have confidence, and help my teammates out.”
Adrienne does it all as the Hornets’ point guard. She shoots, drives, and defends well, but says her ball-handling skills are perhaps her greatest asset on the court.
“I’ve always worked hard at that,” says Adrienne. “It’s my strongest advantage on the court. I usually don’t have trouble getting past defenders.”
Adrienne admits that she had a rough summer while playing AAU basketball, but that experience hasn’t diminished her excitement for the upcoming campaign. Adrienne, who earned All-Oronoque honors in her freshman and junior seasons, already has an offer from a Division II school on the table and is expecting to hear from a few DI schools, as well.
“I’m really excited for this upcoming season,” says Adrienne. “We have a lot of incoming freshman and I think we’ll be better than we have the past few years. We have players that want to play and want to be successful.”
However, before she hits the basketball court, Adrienne is eager to finish her volleyball career strong at Branford, where she’s progressed immensely since first joining the program as a freshman.
“We have a really good coach that has taught me so much. For me personally, from coming into tryouts freshman year where I’d never touched a volleyball to where I am now has been a dramatic improvement,” says Adrienne. “There’s still some improvement that can be made and I know she wants us to all be the best players we can be. I like being out there, working hard at practice. We all push each other and that’s what is making us successful.”