A freshman volleyball player for Homer High School has been selected from her peers to advance her skills out of state with the Alice Witte Memorial Volleyball Scholarship.

Laura Inama, who was pulled up from the junior varsity team to play at the varsity level part way through this school year’s season, said she hadn’t originally even planned on applying. She figured the award would go to an upperclassman, like it usually does.

“It was very surprising,” she said of being pulled up to varsity. “Of course I was really happy and excited … but it was also nerve-racking.”

Provided through The Homer Foundation, the Scholarship was set up to honor the late ASAA Hall of Fame Mariner Coach Alice Witte. The annual scholarship allows a current Mariner volleyball player to travel to the Lower 48 to a volleyball camp to increase their skills, according to a release from Athletic Director Chris Perk. Inama said she had decided to go through with applying for the scholarship at the last minute.

“I was really excited actually,” she said of finding out she had been selected. “I freaked out and I ran up and told my dad, and we were really excited.”

Inama is looking at attending a five-day camp at Soka University in California this summer, suggested by her mother. Of the camps she’s looked at, Inama said this one is the longest and has the best equipment.

She said she’s excited about the opportunity because “I really enjoy learning new things about volleyball, and I think places out of Alaska would teach me new or better techniques that I could share with my team.”

You can expect to see Inama back on the court with her team next season, perhaps with some new moves.

“I just love that I get to play with a group of amazing people in a game that I’ve grown to love over the past two to three years,” she said.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.