Former Cornell volleyball player Sydney Moore ’24 will continue her volleyball career in Germany after signing her one season contract with the ESA Grimma Volleys club based in Grimma, Germany for one year.
“It feels really amazing to get my first pro contract,” Moore said. “I would describe it as surreal. It’s just one of those things I have thought about for so long and the fact that it is finally here and it’s actually happening is really exciting.”
Moore played three seasons with the Red and was named the team’s captain during her senior year. She had a total of 260 kills, 650 total attacks and 212 total blocks. Moore accounted for 388 points in her three seasons.
In her last year of NCAA eligibility, Moore elected to transfer to Syracuse University and pursue her master’s degree in marketing. With The Orange, Moore played in 28 games and recorded 94 blocks in one season. She had 116 kills good for fifth overall on the team.
Moore is passionate about empowering student-athletes by providing them with resources to navigate mental health, through her “Let’s Talk About It” podcast and their name, image and likeness brand through her company, Thrive Insights. She hopes to continue her work in student-athlete advocacy and expand her platform through education and experiences.
“I think it will be really cool to add some more solo episodes to the podcast and talk more about my specific experience,” Moore said. “My overall plan is [to continue the podcast] and play volleyball for as long as I can and using that experience to help others and inspire others.”
The message she hopes to send to young volleyball players trying to obtain a professional contract is that it is possible for those willing to work hard to earn it.
“The opportunity to eventually go professional is definitely out there for the girls who really want it and are working hard for it and are willing to make the different sacrifices and changes in their own lives,” Moore said. “I am excited to be a role model and proof of that. Even though you might not have been the person that’s predicted to go pro on certain teams … you still can.”
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
