Alief Elsik's Nafisat Ozigi
“I was initially drawn to volleyball because of my height and I was looking for a productive extracurricular activity to get involved with,” Ozigi said. “Coming to America when I was about to start eighth grade, then moving here from San Antonio, my Dad really encouraged me to join something in order to ease myself into school life. Once I made the team after tryouts, the rest is history.”
The stars of 2025-26 Alief Elsik VolleyballJamey Wright (VYPE)
Ozigi’s path to the court didn’t begin in a gym, but across the globe. She spent her first 11 years in Nigeria, where school life looked very different.
“I attended a few boarding schools and we didn’t necessarily have competitive sports,” she said. “I’d love to go back and visit sometime after high school because life seemed to be simpler then.”
What she values about her time in the U.S., however, is the connection she’s been able to build.
“There seems to be more interaction between the students, teachers, and coaches,” Ozigi noted. “It’s not so much that we’re seen as peers, but it’s more friendly and there’s an emphasis on the individual relationships.”
Volleyball, she says, has helped anchor her in that process. From communication to accountability, it’s been a space for learning beyond the textbook.
“Teamwork is a major component of the game,” she said. “So, whenever I have projects or assignments that require more than one person, I already have a sense of how to interact with and collaborate with others. Also, it’s helped me to understand the value of taking ownership of what you do, which has made me a better leader, I feel.”
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
That same mindset carries over to the classroom. Ozigi, currently ranked fourth in her senior class at Elsik, is as driven academically as she is athletically.
“It (academics) isn’t always my favorite thing, but I think that’s where my competitive side kicks in; if I want a good grade, I’m going to fight for it.”
As for what comes next, Ozigi sees a future in the courtroom, inspired by someone close to home.
“I see myself pursuing a career in Law, since my Dad isa lawyer and I know the extent of where it can take me.”
