Tia Mackenzie Edwards

Started: She began playing volleyball at age 13 in Skiatook, OK, United States of America. (usavolleyball.org, 11 Nov 2022) Reason: She was invited to attend a US national sitting volleyball team training camp at age 14. She initially did not want to try the sport because she wanted to continue playing standing volleyball, but she was persuaded to try it by her grandmother. "I was totally against it but now I love it." (finance.yahoo.com, 12 Jun 2021) Awards: In 2019 she was named Female Sitting Most Improved Player of the Year by USA Volleyball. (teamusa.org, 12 Dec 2019) In 2016 she was a member of the US national sitting volleyball team that was named the Paralympic Team of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee [USOC]. (usavolleyball.org, 01 Jan 2020) Additional Info: PROSTHETIC ARM In 2019 she was challenged by the US national coaching staff to start playing with a prosthetic arm. "I have had to relearn to pass and set, and how I toss the ball when I serve. It's all so much different then what I grew up doing. I wasn't the best blocker because other teams would just hit over my nubby. Now that I have my arm, it definitely takes that shot away from the opponents. So it has its pros and cons." (teamusa.org, 12 Dec 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION She has studied at Langston University in Oklahoma, United States of America. (X profile, 11 Dec 2016)

Sporting Relatives: Her sister Mikayla Shulanberger has played volleyball for Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK, United States of America. (Facebook profile, 26 Feb 2020)