No. 13 Samantha Prescott, Senior Libero
Trinidad &Tobago
Major: Biology

Samantha Prescott has started all four years and has played nearly every position on the court for the Lady Bears during her career. A native of Trinidad & Tobago, Prescott entered Morgan State as an outside hitter, earning team MVP honors as a freshman. Last season she served as the team's utility player and among her duties found herself filling in at the setter position due to an injury. She would record a career-high 41 assists and a career-high hitting percentage of .750 at Delaware State. As one of six seniors on the team, this season Prescott was named team captain by her teammates and is ready to lead the Lady Bears to a MEAC Northern Division title, as well as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship. Prescott earned Maryland Invite All-Tournament team honors to open up the 2015 season. The Lady Bears begin MEAC play on Friday, September 25 at Hampton.

Student Life
What is the best time of year on campus? "The best time of year would have to be fall for me, because it's not too cold or too hot. I know coming from the Caribbean you would think I like the 24/7 heat but I'd rather be cold/cool than constantly hot. I like that transition not only in temperature, but also with the trees and how their leaves change colors."
Why did you choose your major? "I chose Biology mostly because while I was in secondary school (high school) science was all I studied and I loved Biology the most." 
What has been your favorite or most interesting class at MSU? "My favorite class was my Microbiology with Dr. Chen that I had last semester. It opened up a whole different field of Biology to me."
Favorite professor and why? "That would have to be Dr. Kenneth Samuels. Dr. Samuels was my Biology 105 professor here and I drew towards him instantly because he is also from the Caribbean, and up to this day I can always go to his office hours and ask for advice and help and he is more than willing to be of assistance."
If you had to give an incoming student advice, what would it be? "Don't get caught up in the "hype" of the whole "college life"! These four years fly by so quickly that there is not much room for a whole bunch of academic slip-ups."
Describe your first day as a student at Morgan State? "My first day feels like such a long time ago! I remember for sure… I was lost. The only buildings I knew were the Field House, the library and the student center. Where my classes were though, I didn't have a clue but I got some help from my teammates in our little team group chat. One thing I won't forget is when someone passed by and told me "Hi, how are you?" and I didn't realize that it was just a form of saying "hello"-- So I stopped and tried to give them a response but they just kept walking! So after explaining to my teammates what happened we got a good laugh about it and I learned to always just say "Hey" as a response."
What do you like most about Morgan State? "I like that we have our own unique little culture and way of life."
Pop Culture
What social media do you prefer the most? "Snapchat because it's the most up to date. I barely get on Instagram and Facebook anymore, unless someone is trying to message me or something of that nature."
Would you rather read the book or watch the movie? "Read the book! A book has so much more details and gives you the full story. I like that when reading the book I can make my own interpretation of what the author is trying to convey, whereas in a movie you don't get the true essence of the story, but what they choose to show in that designated time."
What song can you not help but sing-a-long to? "That foolish song "Cheerleader" by Omi! It's so annoying but I can't help myself."
Favorite TV Show? "I don't have one single favorite so my top 3 are: 1) Greys Anatomy, 2) The Office and 3) Bobs Burgers.
Favorite Movie? "Bridesmaids."
Favorite book and/or magazine? "Twilight Saga. I finished Breaking Dawn in less than a week."
Favorite Celebrity? "Michael Ealy with those dreamy eyes."
Favorite musician/musical group? "That would be Sade and musical group would be a Jazz band called Snarky Puppy."
My favorite cartoon or children's show as a child was? "Pokemon and Powerpuff Girls."
Favorite social media source – Twitter, Facebook etc? "I haven't used Twitter since my freshman year, but my favorite would still be Snapchat."
 
Travel
Most interesting place you visited? "That would be Puerto Rico. This was in 2008, the first time I ever left the country and the first time I ever played for my country (Trinidad). It was interesting because literally everything was brand new: the food, people, culture, style of dress. What was especially interesting was the men shaved their legs and the younger teenage girls probably ages 12-16 wore full faces of makeup! That was strange to me but absolutely normal to them."
Place you would like to visit? "I would like to visit Greece where I can see the Delphi Theatre and The Parthenon on top of the Acroplois."
 
Food
Favorite home cooked meal? "My mother's dumplings and corned beef."
Favorite snack? "The M&M's with peanuts inside."
Most underrated food that you like? "A dish called Pelau (pay-lou). I love it especially when my Aunt makes it and it's good to eat with potato salad."
I hated it when my mom made me eat? "Curry chicken with rice. Until this day I refuse to eat it. I dislike plain rice in general." 
Favorite breakfast cereal as a kid? "Nesquik."
 
Sports
When is your favorite time of your sport's season?
"Preseason when we play teams that are not in our conference. I like seeing and playing against unfamiliar teams."
Which team do you most look forward to competing against?
"Our rival Coppin State. I love the crowd that Morgan and even Coppin brings and the smack they talk to each other and even to us. That gives me more incentive to win and it makes the game more exciting."
Do you have any pre-game/match superstitions or rituals?
"I have a few: I MUST wear mascara and eyeliner and if I'm feeling really good then some subtle eye shadow. I would do a full face, but my role this year is different so getting make-up on my white shirt isn't cute or ideal. It was a habit I picked up playing on the national team that "if you look good, you feel good, so you play good." I always listen to Soca (music native to my country) before I play to get me riled up and ready to go, and before we shake the opposing teams hand I always like to touch the corner end-line of our court. Not really sure why I do that one, but it has become a part of my routine."
What is your favorite part about your sport?
"Blocking and digging. Blocking only when it gets blocked back down the teams throat and digging because it gives our side a hope of siding out and crushing the other teams hopes of getting a kill."
What is your favorite athletic memory?
"I actually have two. The first one is sophomore year we played an away game at Howard and I guess I had a really good game and coach came up to me after that game and she gave me a hug and said this probably will not ever happen again (that she hugs me) but I played really well and she was glad we won.
My second is last year when I had to change my role of being an outside hitter to a setter, because our setter got hurt. I got up and dumped the ball in the middle of the court and got that point and our fans did their little stomp and made the "woot woot" noise. That was really exhilarating."
Favorite pro sports team? "I don't have one. Watching professional sports was never something that interested me and that's mostly because I'm not a fan of many sports."
Favorite athlete? "Don't have any."
What is your top skill on the volleyball court? "I wouldn't say I have one top skill because I do a decent job of the skills collectively."
When did you start playing volleyball? "I started playing at the age of 11. My coach, coach Williams saw me and said I looked tall for my age so I should start, so I said I will give it a try. It's actually a funny story because after my first semester of secondary school my father told me that I couldn't play anymore because he thought it affected my grades. I stopped for the rest of the year constantly begging him to start back playing. I performed even worse academically until he let me continue and ever since then I was one of the top students in my class. After that I joined my first club team, made the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Womens National Team at age 14 and all that playing and travelling has lead me to where I am today."
Any pro sports athletes you know personally? "Yes! Quite a few both men and women. One of my closest friends who I grew up playing with is currently in her preseason in Turkey."
 
Miscellaneous
When you are not at practice, what could someone find you doing? "Honestly? Either sleeping, reading, singing along too music or on Netflix."
Do you have a hidden talent? "I can sing."
If you could play another sport other than yours, what would it be? "Badminton. I use to play it for fun in secondary school and I was actually pretty good at it."
What do you most look forward to doing during the summer? "The amount of sleep and rest I get."
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? "Psychokinesis, the ability to move objects with my mind."
Do you have an interesting nickname? "Not really, everyone calls me Sam but my family ALONE calls my Sammy."
If you could switch places with anyone on your team for a day, who would you choose? "Minja, I would love to go to Serbia and experience their culture for a day."
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? "If you find your purpose you'll never work a day in your life."
If you could witness any event of the past, present, or future, what would it be? "I would like to witness the events leading up to the Holocaust and the Holocaust itself. To me that is the most interesting unfortunate event that has occurred in the past."
If I could change one thing about myself it would be? "My tendency to be impulsive at times."
Person you admire most? "My kind-hearted mother."
Coolest thing you did this summer? "I attended my first Ballet performance by the Dance Theatre of Harlem right here at Murphy Fine Arts Centre which I fully enjoyed."
Most prized possession? "My two memory foam mattress pads which are a necessity for a good night's rest."
If you could have dinner with 3 people alive or dead who would they be? "Both my grandfathers who I have no memory of, and a survivor of the Holocaust."
Dream event? "Watching an opera performance in New York."
Your hometown is known for? "Its West Indian delicacy Roti."
Pop or soda? "Soda."
Cats or dogs? "Dogs."
Early bird or night owl? "Somewhat both."
Funniest person on the team? "Freshman Minne Masoe." (laughs)
After meeting coach Bozier I thought? "She was my first female coach and I thought she was funny, cared a lot about the well-being of her athletes, and when she means business? She means business."