Anyssia Mains Swings and Sings for the Lady Flyers
Something home fans of the Sandhills Community College volleyball team learned during a regular season that has produced a record of 32-5 is that freshmen Anyssia Mains can really sing.
The 6-foot middleblocker/rightside sang the national anthem before almost all of the Lady Flyers' 16 home dates at The Hangar.
"We are incredibly lucky to have a player like Anyssia on our volleyball team at Sandhills Community College," Coach Alicia Riggan says. "Her singing the national anthem before each home game adds such a special, personal touch that we've never had before. She's a great young lady who brings not only talent singing, but also skills on the court."
On Sunday, prior to Monday's regular season-ending sweep of two matches against Cleveland CC, Mains performed the contemporary Christian song, "How Great is Our God", at Covenant Love Church in Fayetteville.
The daughter of Daniel and Yvette Mains has a brother, Jodan. She recalls singing karaoke around the house with her father at an early age and with other children at church. On Sundays the family gets together at her grandmothers to sing with her aunt Janice at the piano.
"My dad is my inspiration because I've always watched him in the church and outside the church, growing up, and he's a great role model," she says.
As a teen, Mains began singing at pageants and recalls, winning one, performing "The Climb", a cover of a song by her favorite artist Miley Cyrus. She also likes the motivation aspects of some of the songs by Adele.
"I just think it's a God-given gift," she says of her ability to move people with song, "because without God, I wouldn't be where I am today."
A Health and Fitness Science student at Sandhills, Mains' career goal is to become a an occupational therapist. Following graduation, she plans to transfer to UNC-Pembroke. Her experience at Sandhills is being enriched by being a member of the volleyball team.
"I feel like we have a good connection and it's not just a team," she says. "We're like a family, really good on and off the court."
C. Bergmann