ST. PETERSBURG — Nicole Robinson always loved sports, but when she discovered volleyball in the fifth grade, she knew she found her match.

"I just had the intuition, I guess the athleticism for the game, but when I got to high school, I had to make the choice if I wanted to commit to this sport,” Robinson said.

The St. Petersburg High School senior gave up other sports to focus on volleyball so she could be the best in the game.

"I am really competitive. I think anyone can tell you that who knows me,” she explained.

That drive has helped her become a leader for St. Petersburg High School’s team and her beach volleyball club team.

St. Petersburg High athletic director, Ed Pogorelc has seen Robinson’s leadership develop over her four years.

“She’s very much of a leader, not in a stern way, but as a group, let’s have some fun and let’s get this done,” he said.

Robinson has been the starting setter for St. Petersburg High’s varsity team since she was a freshman. As a senior this season, she helped lead her team to the state semifinals.

Head coach Joe Abad says a work ethic like Robinson’s is difficult to find.

"Not only is she very talented in the actual sport, what makes her above a lot of the other people I've coached before is her drive and her willingness to get better,” he said. "She is so coachable, she works very hard and she wants to win.”

Robinson’s competitive nature carries over into the classroom where she has a 4.6 GPA in St. Petersburg High School’s international baccalaureate program.

"One thing I speak about to our student athletes is how hard it is to be a student athlete in this day and age,” Pogorelc said. "Nicole being in the IB program makes it even harder. It is time management. An effort that’s probably unbelievable. It’s like a strict job and Nicole has done a great job in the classroom on all levels.”

Her dedication is paying off. Robinson will take her talents to Division 1 Santa Clara University in California to play beach volleyball.

"I would like to take it as a far as I can,” Robinson said. "I think college will really open up what’s really possible with potential pro development, the USA Team, I’m just trying to keep an open mind.”

Her dream? To one day play in the Olympics. Given her competitive drive, that’s a real possibility. 

"Nicole’s future is whatever she wants it to be, she will work hard for that,” Pogorelc said.

"She’s a super person besides just an athlete. She does what she needs to do to get things done and the sky’s the limit,” he added.