Queensborough Community College sophomore women's volleyball player Paola Beniquez was tabbed as the CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Community College Scholar-Athlete of the Month for September 2018.
Beniquez, the reigning CUNYAC Player of the Year and NJCAA All-American, is off to a stellar start in her second year. She led the Tigers with a team-best 88 kills on a startling .406 hitting percentage through the month of September.
Beniquez, who currently leads all of NJCAA Division III in aces per set (2.26), also served 72 aces and posted double-doubles in six of the team's 11 matches.
Volleyball has been a passion of Beniquez’s since her days growing up in Puerto Rico and has carried her love of the game to New York City.
“I have been playing volleyball since I was five years old. Volleyball is special to me because it is what taught me to challenge myself constantly. I have to continuously push myself to become better and better. It has taught me communication skills, how to be a leader, working as a group and to continuously set goals for myself,” Beniquez explains.
Despite her dominant play on the court, Beniquez is just as eager to grow in knowledge, as her 3.77 GPA shows as an Art and Design major.
“I have always put school before volleyball, but I try to balance it out my best by managing my time in between classes and volleyball practices and games. Tutoring really helps me understand everything better and that way when I go home, I get everything done faster. It is extremely challenging for me since I live alone in New York and have no family here with me to help out,” Beniquez exclaims.
Although her family may not be in the city, all is not lost. Beniquez has found her voice and an outlet outside of the court in art, and more specifically, painting.
“Art majors seek inspiration on a daily basis. I love to paint while I listen to music. I have a lot going on in my mind and it helps me get everything that I am feeling out and it distracts me from all my problems. I chose to come to New York in the first place for the art culture,” said Beniquez.
To find the balance between the heavy workload of school and playing volleyball has been a work in progress. While she has mentioned how she finds the happy medium, Beniquez also shares certain similarities between the classroom and the court.
“Both are scenarios in which I have to perform my best and dedicate my focus and time to. In class, I also incorporate working as a team whenever we have a group project or activities. In both, there are constant challenges that I have to face and in both I try to succeed,” Beniquez says.
When she is back home in Puerto Rico, Beniquez devotes her time to pursue all the things her community has to offer. That includes giving back to those on the island who are less fortunate and were ravaged by the effects of Hurricane Maria.
With all these different hobbies and interests, it leaves little doubt to how Paola is about to handle her vigorous schedule. Never wasting a second of her time and using every chance to quench her zest for all that life has to offer, it has been made abundantly clear this sophomore was made for this type of life.
After being asked of what her plans for the future are and what future endeavors lie ahead, another thing becomes clear, this is just the beginning.
“I hope to transfer to a university with a prestigious art and design program to get my bachelor's degree and that also has a volleyball program, so I can continue playing for the two years I have left at the college level,” says Beniquez.
Beniquez is on the hunt for her second championship with Queensborough in as many years. To get back to the top, Beniquez will have to shoulder the load and continue her strong play on the court just as she did last year. Beniquez earned the championship's Most Valuable Player award in 2017, thanks in large part to her 21-kill, 10-dig performance.
Surprisingly enough, the Most Valuable Player award was not at the top of her favorite moments from being a Tiger.
“My favorite memory has to be when I became the first-ever Queensborough athlete to be named an NJCAA First Team All-American. I was one of the three freshmen in the country to receive this award. To become a part of anything’s history is honestly one of the best feelings ever! I never thought I would accomplish something as great and significant like this in my college career,” said Beniquez.