After signing with the University of Oklahoma during her sophomore year at Prosper High School (Prosper, TX), freshman volleyball player Ashley Brown never even considered WSU.

Yet on Jan. 23, WSU volleyball Head Coach Jen Greeny announced that Brown is joining the team and will play for the Cougars in the fall with full eligibility.

A two-time 5A All-State setter and previous district MVP, Brown led her high school team to top-six finishes in the 5A state tournament in each of the three years she played for varsity.

She excelled in becoming a three-time Academic All-District selection while spending many hours outside of school playing with her competitive club teams.

A standout both inside the classroom and on the volleyball court, Brown is the first one to admit her passion for the game.

“I’m really competitive and I do not like losing,” Brown said.

All of Brown’s hard work did not go without notice, as she was named an Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention prep player her senior year of high school.

However, Brown’s first year of collegiate volleyball did not go as planned, as Oklahoma showed that it had some weak spots in its program and was not the school she originally anticipated signing with.

Once Brown realized that playing for the Sooners was not in her future, Head Coach Greeny wasted no time in flying her out to Pullman from Texas for an official visit.

Ironically, during her four-hour flight to Pullman for her official visit, Brown sat next to a WSU alum that was probably more excited to see her than she was to get to Pullman. Brown gladly listened to the alum’s talks of the “family atmosphere and many traditions” that occur in Pullman.

While her dad was a professional hockey player in Finland, Brown was not a big fan of the snow when she arrived in Pullman.

WSU’s newest transfer joked about the Cougars ability to maintain the reputation of a “crazy college town,” but she had no idea that it included the weather too.

The ice-filled streets of Pullman are something Brown is working on adjusting to, but she and her family are glad she has arrived.

Brown comes from an athletic and loving family. Her younger brother, who is still in high school, is never ashamed to routinely call his big sister to ask for personal advice and tips when he misses her.

“I would do anything for my brother,” Brown said of embracing her role.

Her genuine personality and love for others is easy to notice and is something that fits right in with the culture at WSU.

Her big sister-like unselfishness carries onto the court, as Brown is always motivated and striving for success for her team. Brown goes into every day willing to put everything on the line for her team, coaches and family.

“I wake up every morning at 5:30,” Brown said. “But it does not bother me at all because I am doing something that I love.”

Brown is never one to complain about having the opportunity to play her favorite sport. She has always wanted to be successful in all aspects of life, and volleyball is just one part that can help her become who she wants to be.

Down the road, Brown wants to pursue a program that allows her to study abroad while playing volleyball simultaneously. It would be awesome to “travel and do something you love at the same time,” Brown said.

Brown has even pondered the idea of traveling overseas and playing in professional leagues as long as it does not disrupt her relationships with her family. Similar to her own attitude and values, Brown was happy to find out she is not alone in sharing her positive mindset here at WSU.

“Everybody is so serious about volleyball and cares so much about their sport here,” Brown said of one of her first impressions of the program.

She could not have asked for any other teammates to put everything on the line with, Brown said. Walking into the first practice as a transfer athlete is always nerve-racking, but Brown was comforted by the generosity and open arms she received.

While she initially thought it was too good to be true, after the days went on, Brown has been reassured in her decision to join the 11 returning WSU players she will be playing with moving forward.

Brown believes that with the team’s two-setter offense and three dominant hitters in the front row, fans can expect the team to build off of its run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

While last year’s team set the school record for most wins in a season since 2002, Brown is excited to contribute to an even better encore, she said.