Melissa Walden

Kentucky

Oct 8 (Wed)

6:00 PM

Photo by: Bailey Orr/Texas A&M Athletics

Position:
Setter
Height:
5-11
Class:
Freshman
High School:
Waubonsie Valley
Hometown:
Aurora, Ill.

HONORS

2020

Spring AD Academic Honor Roll
Fall AD Academic Honor Roll
Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll

CAREER HIGHS

Category	Career High (as of 4/1/21)
Kills
Attempts
Hit% (min. 10 k)
Assists	3 at South Carolina (2/10/21)
Aces
Digs	2 vs. Florida (3/25/21)
Solo Blocks
Assisted Blocks
Total Blocks
Points

2020-21 (FRESHMAN)
Appeared in one set and logged three assists at South Carolina (2/10)…Logged two digs and served vs. Florida (3/25).

PREVIOUS ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE
Was a four-year starter setter/right side hitter for Waubonsie Valley High School...Was named Waubonsie Valley High School’s Team MVP, The Beacon News Player of the Year, all while earning Academic All-Conference honors for four consecutive years...In 2019, she led her team to a conference championship to finish off her senior year...Earned All-Conference Special Mention as a junior and sophomore...Played nine years of club volleyball for Sports Performance...Is a three-time AAU All-American...In 2018, she led her team to a first place finish at AAU Nationals and at the Ultra Ankle Bluegrass Qualifier...Helped her team place first at the JVA World Challenge in 2017 and a third place finish at the JCA World Challenge in 2016... Most memorable high school athletic career is winning regionals her sophomore year for the first time in school history since 1999 and continuing it for the next three years.

PERSONAL
Began playing volleyball when she was eight years old...Her uncle, Murat played professional soccer in Turkey...Made official recruiting visits to Texas A&M and VCU...Chose to attend Texas A&M because “I loved the traditions that the school continues to uphold. There was also a strong support system and sense of family amongst the people on campus that ultimately impacted my decision.”...Describes herself as a self-critical but supportive teammate… “Volleyball to me means giving my all regardless of the score and who I’m playing with.”...Hobbies include reading, spending time with teammates, and spending time with family...Is majoring in English with a minor in Communication...Career ambition is to work in a publishing company.

WALDEN CLOSE UP

Favorites:

Favorite class subject: English
Favorite quote: “Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage, just literally twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."
Favorite volleyball player of all time: Kelsey Robinson
Favorite social media site: Snapchat
Favorite type of music: Throwbacks
Favorite food: Quesadillas
Favorite binge watching TV show: Umbrella Academy
Favorite book: Chain of Gold / Crescent City
Favorite movie: Set it Up
Favorite Disney character: Hercules
Favorite animal: Bear
Favorite part about the sport of volleyball: Being a part of a team
Favorite thing about A&M: The sense of community
Favorite Aggie tradition: Aggie Ring
Favorite Karaoke song to sing: He Could Be The One (But only if Claire Jeter is with me)
Favorite place to vacation: Turkey

Miscellaneous:

My nickname is: Mel
One word to describe me when I am on the court: Encouraging
The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career: My dad
The accomplishment (athletic or non-athletic) that I am most proud of: Finding a college to play for
The Aggie volleyball player I most idolized while growing up: Hollann Hans
The person I would most like to meet: Margaret Atwood
Best pump-up song: Bring Em Out by T.I.
Musical Instruments that I play: Violin
Languages (other than English) that I speak fluently are: Turkish
When I was little, I dreamed of being a: Chemist
Early bird or night owl: Both
Few people know that I: Have siblings
My best non-athletic talent(s): Being able to quickly identify song titles and their artists
My most prized possession: My family
My most annoying habit: Losing track of time
Best piece of advice for your freshmen teammates: Be yourself
I am most thankful for: My family