"Working Hard Works": Sophie Krichev Reflects on Her Freshman Season at UT Arlington

Sophie Krichev is back on Better Together.

When Sophie first joined the podcast, she was preparing to begin her collegiate volleyball career at UT Arlington. Now, after completing her freshman season, she returns to share what life at the Division I level has really been like.

From adjusting to college athletics and building confidence as a freshman starter to navigating life away from home and developing strong relationships with teammates, Sophie offers an honest look at the transition from club volleyball to college volleyball.

She also shares the lessons she learned about confidence, self-talk, coachability, leadership, and why "working hard works."

Whether you're a current athlete, a parent, or someone preparing for the recruiting process, Sophie's perspective offers valuable insight into what happens after the commitment announcement and what it takes to grow at the next level.