In Their Own Words: Ryan Lew

Two days after a big win against Penn State, the 10th-ranked team in the nation, I decided to get treatment on my shoulder before finals week hit. While I was in the Athletic Training Room, I was notified that one of my teammates had sent me an Instagram post. I opened it and began reading. It was a statement released by the NCAA canceling all of its winter and spring championships.

Since the announcement was so sudden, in the moment, it had not dawned on me that my collegiate volleyball experience was over. I was at a loss for words. I read the post three or four times before realizing that my senior year season had come to an end.

Being born and raised in San Marino, a small suburban town outside of Los Angeles, I had surprisingly very little knowledge about the university that was located two hours south of me in La Jolla. The only things I knew were that there's a Division 1 volleyball team, the school has a strong background in science and research, and the city has amazing weather.

As a senior in high school, two things constantly passed through my mind - graduation and college. I wasn’t too sure what to think or how to feel. One chapter of my life was ending and a new chapter was soon to begin. I knew I wanted to continue my education at a place that would help me accomplish my lifelong dream of becoming a physician. After a visit to UC San Diego and many Google searches later, I decided this was going to be home for the next four years.

Since my time as an undergraduate is dwindling, I can confirm that there is more to UC San Diego than a volleyball team, a university with a strong science background, and amazing weather. I have learned so much and I believe I have matured exponentially over the past four years. I was able to enjoy college by balancing athletics with academics, meeting genuine people, and exploring La Jolla and the surrounding beaches. The connections I have made during my time at this university are priceless. I am proud of my accomplishments and I can confidently state that I would not be the same person I am today if I did not decide to attend UC San Diego.

Ryan Lew is a senior libero and human biology major on the men's volleyball team. A four-year Triton, Lew finished his career with 670 career digs, the third-most in program history and just four short of the second spot on the list. In 2020, the UC San Diego captain played in all 71 of the team's sets. He ranked 30th nationally in digs per set and third in total kills among all Big West Conference players. In late January, Lew was named the Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He earned Big West All-Academic honors as a sophomore and junior.

"In Their Own Words" is an on-going series highlighting UC San Diego senior scholar-athletes. Below are previous "In Their Own Words" stories:

• Derek Fordham (swim and dive)
• Alyssa Wing (softball)
• Chloe Wight (tennis)
• Melanie Jaffe (rowing)
   

About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country.  The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.

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For complete coverage and information regarding UC San Diego Athletics, follow the Tritons online at UCSDtritons.com and through social media on Twitter (@ucsdtritons), Instagram (@ucsdtritons) and Facebook (ucsdtritons). To stay tuned in to UC San Diego Men's Volleyball, follow the team's Instagram (@UCSDmvb) or visit the Tritons on Twitter (@UCSDmvb).