Oliwia Szatkowska

A native of Warsaw, Poland, “Liz” Szatkowska attended high school in her home country and competed with a Polish volleyball club for nine years before coming to UMFK. She has a resume of both an libero and a defensive specialist.

During her time as a Bengal, Szatkowska has been named Athlete of the Week and earned Second Team All-American honors. She considers the opportunity to play collegiate volleyball in the United States her greatest accomplishment. The experience has taught her how to adapt to a new environment, collaborate with people from different backgrounds and become more independent and confident.

Outside of athletics, Szatkowska credits Dr. Curran with helping her grow as a student. His consistent support and willingness to assist with her academic needs have made her transition to college easier and helped her become more confident in the classroom.

Away from volleyball, Szatkowska enjoys traveling, hiking and playing beach volleyball. Her favorite musical artist is The Weeknd, she supports the Los Angeles Lakers, and her favorite foods include Italian cuisine and Chipotle. One fact people may not know about her is that she has a twin sister.

Szatkowska is grateful for the encouragement of her parents and her volleyball coach in Poland. Her personal motto is: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”