BIRMINGHAM –
Every collegiate athlete has a story. Some get into sports by following in a family member’s footsteps. Others break the mold as a first-generation athlete. For those with a mentor to guide
them and make connections, the path can be simpler. Athletes without that luxury can have a harder time getting noticed, particularly when trying to earn recognition on an international scale. UAB freshman Fernanda Maida has been through that struggle being
a native of Cochabamba, Bolivia.
The Blazers’ outside hitter was born in Bolivia, but moved to West Virginia at the age of 1. Maida continued to live there until she was 8 years old, picking up English as her first language before moving back to Bolivia. It was after moving below the equator once again that Maida was inspired by her mother to pick up volleyball. From then on, she excelled at the youth level on the beach side and with indoor competition, earning the right to represent her country across South America and making her way to every country on the continent along the way.
Maida was also able to expand her range of competition beyond South America, competing in Mexico for the World Cup and at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China as a 15-year-old. While athletes from some countries were able to just focus on volleyball, Maida’s route wasn’t as easy without any financial backing from her country.
“I’m proud of that because my country doesn’t support athletes, so if I went with my teammate, it was all on us,” said Maida. “Our parents paid for everything, and we had to go to every qualifying game. I felt like it was me, my teammate and my family that worked for that.”
Despite the lack of support from her country, Maida recollects the trip to China as one of her best experiences.
“It was the best trip of my life. I never imagined I was going to go there, but I think I liked it more because I really like learning new stuff and getting to know new people,” she said. “I watch a lot of professional volleyball – beach volleyball and indoor – like big teams and countries. I think playing against some people my age at that level was really exciting. I’ve played against teams that are playing in world cups now, so I can say, ‘I played against her.’”
Following her youth career, Maida was given the opportunity to play professionally in Europe. While that window of opportunity will stay open beyond her graduation, Maida made getting her degree first a priority after finishing high school rather than chasing money right away. Along with wanting a degree, she knew she wanted to come back to the United States for college.
“I had an idea of how life was here. It’s a higher quality of life than Bolivia,” Maida said. “Also, because my parents actually lived here and knew the professional life and quality of life, they always wanted me to come back here. Volleyball helped me out with that, so I was really practicing a lot to help my chances of coming here.”
Once decision time came for which college to attend, UAB assistant coach Shawn McLaughlin was a key piece in convincing Maida to choose the Blazers.
“I was supposed to go to Texas, but Shawn actually brought me here because I went on a visit in Texas where he was working. He just asked if I wanted to try to come to UAB,” she said. “I said yes, and I came and really liked it. I had no idea I was going to come to Alabama, but I’m happy it happened.”
Although she enjoys being here and spending time with the team, as with anyone moving to a different country, Maida misses certain aspects from home. She notes the culture, the environment and the people from home as the main parts she misses after spending much of her free time there surrounded by friends and family.
Living away from home can be difficult for anyone, but that can get magnified when someone moves to a different country to live alone. Although Maida notes the transition was difficult, she believes it made her stronger as well.
“The first year was pretty rough because I was all alone,” said Maida. “I am used to traveling, but it’s not such a long time. I used to travel every weekend, but after the first two weeks, I felt that I was alone. I have aunts and uncles here, but they live in other states.
“I learned that I’m a strong person because I think I’ve been through a lot since I’m alone in everything. Staying home, I was always surrounded by family. Here, you really get separated from your family when you go to college,” Maida said. “In Bolivia and most of South America, you stay with your family until you want to leave. There’s no such thing as going to college and sleeping there. I think I was so used to being surrounded by my people that I knew I always had backup for something. When I came here, I was alone and only had myself. I learned that I am a strong and mature person from that.”
Now that Maida has adjusted with a full season under her belt, she’s been able to boost the team on the court. The freshman posted the team’s second-highest kills per set average (2.48) while also ranking in the top five on the team in kills with 166 last season.
Should Maida forgo the professional route once she graduates, the business management major plans to combine her love of sports and business expertise to start her own business that helps people in a similar situation to her own.
“I have this big plan of mastering in sports management and doing sports marketing, but my long term plan is to open up a volleyball center where I can do recruiting stuff to help people come here,” she said. “I would recruit different players and have them for a specific time. I’d also try to communicate with different schools. I went through it the difficult way because I was on my own, so I just really want to help other people. In my country, it’s really hard to get a scholarship outside the country, so I’m thinking more about helping people who can’t with their own resources.”
Through all the success Maida has experienced in her volleyball career and personal life, her mantra has stayed the same. When asked how she’s been able to reach her goals and achievements, her answer
is always the same – stay humble. Regardless of which path Maida chooses following her time with the Green and Gold, she will use that mindset to further her success on the court and achieve the career aspirations she sets out to achieve.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
