The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Neal looks to family support for motivation
09.20.2015 | Volleyball
The Austin native has 20 or more family members at every game.
AUSTIN, Texas- As senior Amy Neal begins her final season playing volleyball for the University of Texas, she reflects on the overwhelming support she has received along the way from family and friends.
The support of Amy Neal's family started at the beginning of her career when she played club volleyball at the age of 12. Raised in Austin, Neal attended and exceled in volleyball at Lake Travis High School, winning state her junior and senior year.
"The first thing I notice when I run out at the match is my grandparents in the stands," Amy said. "It just makes me really happy because our family is so close."
Now, 11 games into her senior season, Neal is playing not only for herself, but also for the 20+ family members she has at each game.
And she is making a statement. Neal currently leads the Longhorns in kills with 4.00 per set and service aces with 19 on the season. In Texas' sweep of the Wildcat Classic last weekend, she was named the Wildcat Classic Most Valuable Player.
"We all live in or around Austin, so we are all able to come," Amy's mom, Kim said. "Amy has her own little family fan club and we always bring friends along too."
Neal is grateful to have such a large, supportive family. Her father, Russell, is a UT graduate as well as her brother, David. Kim Neal, her mother, is a graduate from Baylor and was a university cheerleader. Amy's sister, Kate, is a graduate from Texas Christian University (TCU).
Amy also has two new fans, her nieces Carolina and Sawyer, who are six-month old twins. Even her tiniest supporters bleed burnt orange, proudly sporting their Aunt Amy's jersey number in the stands.
"It means everything, because Amy always wanted to go to Texas," Kim said. "I'm really glad she made it work and she has a huge amount of fan support from our family, friends, and extended people that know her."
For Amy's family, her volleyball career is even more than a priority, but an exciting tradition. At every home game, both sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles, and more extended family can be found in the stands celebrating her talent.
But the support doesn't stop there—Neal's family members also travel well, the away games also of high precedence for the clan. In 2014, Russell and Kim traveled to every match, with the exception of West Virginia and Iowa State.
"Russell and I travel to almost all of the volleyball games, either road-tripping or flying," Kim said. "This year, we aren't missing any."
For Amy, the support is overwhelming and has been since her first days playing club volleyball.
"At every game, there probably is a Neal on each side of the gym," Amy said. "My family means the world to me. I play for them and notice them in every game."
The Neal's recognize how unique it is to have Amy play so close to home and with a program they have always respected and admired.
"It has been incredibly special for our family and for our extended group of friends that Amy has been able to play at UT," Kim said. "We are so lucky that she is so close to home where so many of us have had the chance to watch and support her."