Wisa's star continues to rise higher ahead of 2014 FIVB Grand Prix

It was dream come true for Edith Wisa after she was named in the national team for 2014 FIVB Grand Prix.

The former Lugulu High alumni had once told Game Yetu in an interview that her goal was to play for the national senior team, to the highest level possible.

And national team head coach David Lung’aho has granted her wish by naming the centre player in a 12-member team for Grand Prix Championship that starts in Mexico on July 25.

“It is the wish of every player to compete at the highest possible level in the world,” she said.

“The Grand Prix is a big event and I’m happy to be part of the team going for the Circuit,” she said.

The Kenyan team plays their first leg matches in Mexico and then shift to Croatia for next round.

The 20-year-old former captain of Lugulu High is one of the players to have now graduated in the junior national team.

She was part of the national team that participated in the under-23 FIVB World Championships in Mexico last year.

Wisa made her first international debut at competitive stage when she participated in the 2013 FIVB World Club Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.

She now believes that the two high profile international tournaments were the turning point of her volleyball career.

“Playing in the World Club Championships and under-23 World Championships were an eye opener for me as a developing player,” she said.

‘The FIVB competitions helped me to improve my confidence and courage to face big teams,” she said.

Wisa played her first international match against Volero Zurich and she did not disappoint as she came out with three points during the FIVB World Club Championships.

Her duty in Zurich was to mark one of the greatest attackers in the world, Volero’s Cuban international Kenia Carcases.

Wisa says she is very comfortable in playing at centre position because she has mastered fast attacks.

“I enjoy centre position because I’m used to fast attacks unlike the antenna positions where you wait for long to strike,” she explained.

And on what she likes about volleyball, Wisa pointed that the sport was among the few where all teams are given equal treatment. Wisa joined volleyball while a class five pupil at Mama Joy Academy in Lugari, Kakamega County.

But since this was a private school that wanted academic results, the administration of the institution was not keen on sports.

She was lucky to join Lugulu High in 2009, a school that is well known in developing volleyball talent in Kenya.

She joined Lugulu volleyball team and trained hard with focus on being one of the best players around.

Due to her exemplary leadership skills, she was appointed deputy captain while in form three and thereafter promoted to full skipper in form four.

“Only great players are given mandate to captain teams, and I was one of them,” she said.

Wisa hopes that she will one day be the captain of the national team.

Wisa negated the notion that sports interfere with academics as she said: “Sports does not interfere with one’s academics so long as you balance them perfectly. While at Lugulu I was actively involved in sports, but I achieved grade “B” of 64 points in ordinary level examinations. Sports cannot prevent one from performing in class,” she asserted.

Wisa looks forward to further her academics while at same time playing volleyball.

Her advice to upcoming players is: “Observe discipline and respective your seniors if you want to succeed in life.”