WASHINGTON (December 30, 2024) - It took Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) a few years to realize her club coach's vision.
 
You see, Awojobi started playing volleyball and was an outside hitter, one of the more noticeable positions on the floor. In terms of glamor, attention and value, it is like the quarterback or shooting guard. Awojobi loved playing that role because she got an opportunity to be noticed.
 
"What's crazy is when I was playing club, my coach told me I am naturally better at playing the right side," Awojobi said. "Everyone wants to be an outside hitter and they are flashy. As I started transitioning and learning the right side, I told myself that I was blessed to be on the court. I eventually started to like the right side and stopped being stubborn."
 
As the heartbeat and one of the co-captains of the Howard University volleyball program, Awojobi has stood tall and proud during a phenomenal career. With an infectious enthusiasm for life, Awojobi is a testament to the power of dedication, adaptability, an unwavering love for volleyball and an unyielding commitment to pursuing what truly ignites her soul.
 
The versatile and supreme senior right-side hitter has been a portrait of passion, dedication and excellence. Volleyball has been the perfect metaphor for Awojobi's life, embodying her determination to embrace the challenges of learning a new position and thriving amid the discomfort of growth.
 
"I have learned to get comfortable being uncomfortable," Awojobi said. "That is where the growth happens. The people, environment, culture and school improved my experience here. The challenges have pushed me to grow in ways I never imagined. And I am grateful for every moment of it."
 
Awojobi's leadership and consistent performances helped Howard enjoy a season to remember. The Bison won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular-season championship by completing a perfect 14-0 run through the challenging competition.
The Bison swag surfs after each victory, something Awojobi admits has been fun.
 
"I am proud of our team's resilience," Awojobi said. "Watching our hard work in practice translate to games is beautiful. Sometimes, you can have great practice, but it does not always show during games. We were performing and showing people what we have been doing and our work has paid off. It was great."
 
Her volleyball journey became full circle when the Bison played a road match at Georgia Tech last season. After all, it was where the affable Awojobi fell in love with the sport after attending a Georgia Tech volleyball match, sparking a passion to dream big where she knew one day that all eyes would be on her.
 
Growing up, without much technology to distract her, Awojobi spent countless hours on YouTube learning the nuances of the game, intentionally studying movements, ball placements, rotations, and mastering techniques.
 
Her dreams came true because it was hard not to notice Awojobi's brilliance.
 
Awojobi shined this season for the Bison. She was second in the MEAC in service aces (0.46), fifth in points (3.52), ninth in kills per set (2.67), and 10^th in digs per set (2.63). In addition, she had six double-doubles. Awojobi had 14 matches with double-digit kills, including a season-best 14 against New Mexico (Sept. 6). She also had 13 matches with double figures in digs. Her season best was 22 kills against Kansas City (Sept. 7).
 
Her versatility impressed longtime Howard volleyball head coach Shaun Kupferberg.
 
"Dami is a great example of a student-athlete," Kupferberg said. "She has worked through obstacles to achieve her potential. She continually worked on her game for four years and has put together the most well-rounded season in conference history. No other player has ranked in the top 10 in hitting percentage, kills per set, blocks per set, digs per set and aces per set, all in the same year. Her impressive self-confidence and determination have allowed her to grow and develop her game continually. I look forward to seeing her play at the professional level because she is just starting to see her skills develop."
 
She soars as if launched from a trampoline, striking the ball with the blistering power of a 100- mile-per-hour fastball. Teammates and fans alike are drawn to her robust and floor-shaking finishes, unmatched hustle and ball placement, which resembles the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. Yet, her high school coach, Desiray Boyd, instilled the foundation of her game with humility and mental toughness.
 
"She emphasized the mental game and the importance of staying grounded," Awojobi said. "It is a big part of my game. I do not take that lightly because humility is essential."
 
Her infectious energy and belief in the team's collective strength have helped enhance Howard's culture of camaraderie and resilience within the program. A team-bonding trip in which the Bison went on safari expeditions, visited Victoria Falls, one of the world's wonders and explored different cultural experiences earlier this year in Botswana, Africa, helped the team become closer.
 
"As student-athletes, this trip was so special," Awojobi wrote in a first-person diary for Volleyball magazine. "The time demands of playing a college sport do not allow many travel opportunities apart from school-issued breaks … Appreciate what you already have, get comfortable being uncomfortable and be patient and kind in all situations. These lessons presented themselves in many forms during our trip. It forced even more humility in my lifestyle while living here in the United States."
 
Awojobi had to make one of the most complex decisions in her life. It gave her angst.
 
"This was my first experience with change for real," Awojobi said. "I had to deal with letting go. This was the first life moment and we had to deal with that. Having to make that decision was hard."
 
Long before she spiked her first volleyball, Awojobi laid the foundation for her athletic career. Growing up in Hempstead, New York, the nuances of learning positional rotations paralleled her decade of dance and baseball, allowing her to develop the physical strength and coordination that helped her stand out as a volleyball player. Dancing strengthened her legs, while baseball built power in her arms. Tennis and basketball were also critical sports that enhanced her dynamic game.
 
However, she discovered her true calling while participating in Hofstra's summer camp, which led to her playing for Club Ace Long Island (CALI).
 
"I had danced for 10 years, but volleyball felt different," Awojobi said. "It was a tough decision to step away from dance, but that moment taught me about change, resilience and making sacrifices for growth. Learning rotations is so underrated. It is like a dance—a choreography you must master."
 
A sports management major with a business administration minor, Awojobi inspires others to push boundaries and embrace challenges. She is making a difference and dreams of playing professionally overseas after she earns her degree. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Awojobi leaned into her love of fashion as she explored up cycling clothing, a process in which she used her sewing machine to transform old garments into unique pieces.
 
"I want to travel, see the world and play while young," she says. "If not, Plan B is coaching or working in fitness. "(Up cycling) was fun and taught me to embrace exploration, even if things did not always succeed."
 
Awojobi's journey, woven with positive experiences on and off the court, is also shaped by her Nigerian heritage. Her Yoruba name, "God has given me wealth," once felt burdensome but has become a source of pride. Though an only child, Awojobi finds community in her teammates and friends, many of whom she considers her chosen family.
 
"It is beautiful," she says of her name. "What people call you and what you speak over yourself are important."
 
Attending Howard has also been memorable for Awojobi.
 
"The best word I can say is it has been a blessing," Awojobi said. "During the recruiting process, I was told to make sure I chose a school where I would like it off the court, too. Howard's legacy and culture is special. What I like about attending Howard is everyone is determined to achieve their goals. That keeps you on your toes. Knowing there are so many opportunities at Howard is a blessing."
   
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.