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VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2 103 "In my talks with Dave, I know he's always going to have my back, and I let him know I have his back too," she says. "Whenever he or (assistants) John (Shondell) or Kat (Jewell) say stuff in practice, meetings, the locker room, or during games, I think it's important as a senior to try to keep reiterating and reinforcing what they say." Adelaja's willingness to become more of a verbal leader is not lost on Shondell. "I think she's learned that for her to take this team, as the only senior we have on our roster, in the direction that we have to go, she's going to have to step out of her comfort zone," Shondell said. "She's been more vocal, she's been more assertive, and I think she's established even more respect from her teammates because she has done that. She's more accountable as a leader on this team. "When you look around and you're the only se- nior, you're either going to lead or you're going to put that on somebody else that might not quite be ready for it. I think she's done a really good job step- ping up into a leadership capacity." Of course, the coaches not only value Adelaja's leadership skills, but also appreciate the consisten- cy she provides at the net every night. Adelaja has been a fixture on the national hitting percentage leaderboard all year, after earning honorable-men- tion All-America recognition as a junior. Don't ask her about her stats though – the Baton Rouge, La., native never bothers to look at them. "I literally don't know," she says. Hitting percentage? "Apparently, that's a thing," she laughs. "I don't really worry about those things. I don't look at in- dividual stuff. I look at more team stuff. I'm more focused on other people besides myself." "People who know Faye recognize that she's prob- ably as reliable and as accountable as any player we have on our team," Shondell says. "They know what they're going to get, night in and night out, from her: It's going to be her very best. "She's six-foot [and] a half inch, playing as a middle blocker in our league. There are some other women that size in our league, but they're not hit- ting .450. There are very few times in the last two years that she hasn't been able to do her thing." In addition to the grind of the volleyball season, Adelaja is also currently in the midst of the medical school application process, as the Academic All-Big Ten selection tries to figure out the best place to continue her education. "She has a lot going on," Shondell said. "Her ma- jor (movement and sport sciences) is very tough and she has big plans, to carry on her career and being a doctor at some point in time." The medical profession runs in Adelaja's blood. Her parents, Francis and Gladys Adelaja, came to the United States from Nigeria more than a quarter century ago so Francis could do his residency to become a doctor in America. He now owns a clinic where he practices in Louisiana, and Gladys works by his side as the clinic manager. Faye grew up there both observing and helping with filing and paperwork, and plans to join her older sister as high school valedictorians following their father's footsteps to medical school after college. It is not surprising the motivation for Faye Adelaja's life outside volleyball mirrors how she functions in the Boilermakers' program. "I think the best part of what my dad does is that he gets to help people," Adelaja says. "He gets to make people better." She pauses, restating the thought with obvious satisfaction and pride. "After they see him, they leave better. "That's always been his answer every time I ask him, 'Why did you become a doctor?' It's always be- cause he loves helping people, so I think that's why I want to be a doctor too. I feel like my whole goal in life, no matter what I'm doing, is just to make other people better." Based on her words, deeds and background, Ade- laja is on track to do just that. j