- "I made Virginia Wesleyan my top choice because it is what I was looking for in a college: a place where you know a lot of people but there are new people you are meeting daily. The class sizes are an even bigger plus - 1:13 teacher to student ratio! I work better in a smaller atmosphere as opposed to a room filled with 200 kids. At VWC, you are a name, not a number, but we are all Marlins. It is nicely located: beaches, city, and countryside. Additionally, I have family in the area with them able to enjoy some great volleyball... (a bonus for me too!)."
- Selected Virginia Wesleyan over Shippensburg University, East Stroudsburg University, Keystone College, Washington College, Keuka College, Wheaton College, Caldwell University, Coker College, UVA-Wise, Fairleigh Dickinson, Bryan College, Lebanon Valley, Roanoke College, and Shepherd University
Career Highs
Kills: NA
Assists: NA
Service Aces: NA
Digs: NA
Total Blocks: NA
2015-16 ODAC All-Academic Team
Freshman (2015): Appeared in two matches on the year and a total of three sets as a first-year.
Before VWC: Member of the volleyball team at Loudoun County High School... Won 15U Regionals... Led her 18U team as a 16 year old to Nationals... Member of the National Honor Society, English Honor Society and Science Honor Society... Served on the Senior Class Council... Member of the Future Educator's Association, Keyettes (volunteer organization), and Raider Athletic Club (RAC, athletic volunteer club)... Took Spanish and ASL in high school... Earned one of two Outstanding ASL Student Awards as a junior.
Personal: Daughter of Thorpe and Theresa Vaughan... Has three siblings: Andersen, Chandler, and Bennett.
Get to Know Meri-Tate
- Enjoys spending time with family, friends, and pets because she is a self-described home-body
- Fan of "Team USA all the way!!!"
- Favorites include "The Little Mermaid" or any Disney movie, and all TV shows and movies except horror
- Self-description in 10 words or less: "task-oriented, opinionated, beautiful country music lovin' woman"
- My favorite aspect of being an athlete is: "sports create relationships, provides unforgettable memories, inspires people, promotes team while building a group of lifelong friends that are your second family."
- If you could spend a day with one famous person from any time period, it would be...: "Carrie Underwood. She is currently my favorite singer and I would love to meet her dog Ace. She is able to balance a career and family, something I also hope to achieve and maintain."
- People might be surprised to know this about me: "I have a very strong work ethic."
- It's the year 2030 and I am...: "teaching a group of elementary students, probably fifth grade, back in my hometown of Leesburg, Virginia. I can see the room filling with laughter and the tiniest, but most significant moments of students figuring something out for themselves and the light bulb going off in their wee little heads. I would relish the idea of knowing I made a lifelong impact on at least one or two of them."
