Abi Sanvee, a senior Health and Human Performance major from Memphis, chose to attend UTM because she wanted to be a part of an excellent team.
Sanvee said she had scholarship offers from other schools, but she was looking for something different. One big influence that UTM had on her was that they had just won a championship the year prior, and she wanted to be involved with a team that worked hard at being successful.
“Abi is very talented. … [She] has played a big part in the team’s success. She has proven on and off the field to be liked by her peers and coaches,” said UTM head coach Phil McNamera.
McNamera also said that Sanvee has enjoyed a very good career with the Skyhawks. This statement is backed up by double-figure wins each year, two back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and four consecutive Ohio Valley Conference titles.
This season, Sanvee led the team with five goals this season, four of which were game-winning shots.
“Each game we won off of the game-winning goals was a team effort. … I was just in the right place at the right time,” Sanvee said.
Born in Liberia, Sanvee moved to the United States with her mother at age 7. She grew up in Memphis and graduated from Evangelical Christian School in 2010. She says her favorite high school experience was winning regionals and going to state.
Although she loved soccer, Sanvee also played basketball in high school. She says her mom put her in sports to keep her busy. She started playing competitive soccer at age 10. Her 5-year-old sister, Lia, will begin playing soon.
Sanvee says that practice is sometimes monotonous, but you have to focus on your love for the game. She says that balance is a big challenge because you must stay focused as a team by making sure each member eats a balanced meal, doesn’t drink, doesn’t go to parties and puts school first.
She says their coach even brought in a nutritionist to be better able to help them stay healthy and fit and make sure they eat balanced meals and load up on carbohydrates.
Sanvee says that her schedule is so busy that she doesn’t have time for any organizations outside of her church, Central Baptist Crash Ministries.
Despite a hectic schedule, McNamera plans activities for the team, such as camps and visits to shelters to keep them in touch with the community. During the school break, she intends to play intramural basketball with two other teammates when soccer season ends. She also says she doesn’t get to go home often during season, but her family comes to all of her home games.
Sanvee’s hobbies include reading old classics, crocheting, collecting old cartoons and basketball occasionally. After graduation, she plans on getting into nursing school and studying to be a RN; she is currently majoring in nursing.
“I believe that being a part of UTM’s soccer team and being pushed and driven by the coaching staff is going to translate [to] how I perform in my career later,” Sanvee said.
She says her advice to other student athletes is to make the most of their time and bond with their teammates.
