Athlete of the Week

Name: Fatoumata Dacosta
Classification: Junior
Major: Accounting
Sports: Volleyball
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
Who is your favorite athlete?
“Kobe Bryant.” Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.

Who is your role model?
“My parents.”

What is the best advice you’ve been given and by whom?
“My mom has always told me to not give up and always try my best.”

Where’s your favorite hangout spot on campus? Why?
“I’m just playing volleyball and don’t do anything else. Maybe basketball.”

When did you begin playing basketball and why did you start?
“I started playing since I was 6 years old. My sisters would play volleyball and I started playing with them.”

Did you compete in high school and did you get any awards?
“We don’t have high school sports like here [in the U.S.], but I played in a club in my country and I played in the national team, too.”

What are your academic goals?
“I hope to get a 4.0 GPA.”

What is your favorite movie?
“Fast Girls.” The film “Fast Girls” is a 2012 sports drama about women’s track.

Is there a song that gets your head in the game?
“‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten.”

How do you feel about being part of the first UTRGV Women’s Volleyball Team?
“I think it’s great to have this team and this coach, it’s just awesome. I love this team and the coaches. The way that they just coach us and the way that they help us with everything.”

–Compiled by Jacqueline Arias