Senior Payton Sproule is more than just a beach volleyball player; alongside her many talents on the court, Sproule is a master crocheter, a published author and an avid hiker. 

Sproule, a North Bay, Ontario native, began her beach volleyball career at 11 years old and has worked every day since to gain her D1 status.

“I started playing indoor volleyball when I was around 11 years old,” Sproule said. “My transition into beach didn’t begin until I played indoor for two years. My dad’s buddy’s daughter needed a beach partner for an indoor beach tournament coming up, and I was asked if I was interested in trying it. I wasn’t super aware of beach at that time, but I agreed to try it.”

Sproule explains her switch from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball and her first experiences with the sport. 

“My love for beach kept growing, until one year I suddenly realized that I enjoyed beach more than indoor,” Sproule said. “Playing indoor in the winter, for me, was training for the beach I would play in the summer. 

“I found myself at the level where I felt extremely dedicated to mastering the sport, so my parents encouraged me to sign up for the high-performance winter sessions run by Team Ontario in Toronto,” she said.

Sproule said after many years of hard work and determination, she picked UCA to further herself on the court and through her studies. 

“Honestly, after my tour of UCA and after meeting my future teammates, I didn’t even want to continue visiting the other schools I was looking at,” Sproule said. “I loved the city of Conway. I loved the beautiful campus and all of the outdoorsy amenities I would have access to. I loved the purple and gray football field. I loved the staggered beach courts. I loved everything about it.”

Sproule explains her time in the sand has taught her more than the sport, and has even taught her about herself. 

“My sport has taught me that I am resilient. I am a fighter who works hard and can do difficult things every day, with a smile on my face,” Sproule said. “It also taught me how to better connect with others and how to be comfortable being my authentic self.”

While at UCA, Sproule pursued a psychology degree, which she piqued an interest in during her early years. 

“I have been interested in the field of psychology for a very long time,” Sproule said. 

“I remember solidifying my career path in grade 8 just on the sole fact that I was interested in human behavior. I’ve always wanted to better understand both myself and others to navigate through life with more empathy and understanding. I’ve always been into self-improvement.”

Outside of her education and her sport, Sproule enjoys spending her time writing, crocheting and hiking. 

“I am a published author and wrote my first novel at the age of 16,” Sproule said. “I try to write every day to develop my writing skills so my next novel will be better than the first… I just recently taught myself how to crochet over Christmas break. I am currently working on making a purple teddy bear; his name will be Bruce. I am also obsessed with hiking and just being outside in general. I love going on bike rides and love the reward of flying down big hills after killing your legs just to get to the top.”

Sproule, who is graduating in the spring, reflects on her last semester, and what UCA has offered her. 

“My college experience has been the best part of my life so far,” Sproule said. “Within these four years, I’ve experienced so many ups and downs that have been nothing but beneficial to my development as a person… I cherish every connection I’ve made here and appreciate all who have made a Canadian girl feel so welcome in the South… I know I will miss all of my American friends I’ve made over the years, and I will miss UCA as a whole.” 

After graduation, Sproule plans to return to Ontario, Canada, and start her journey as a psychologist. She hopes to dabble in research and help as many people as possible.