There is nothing so-so about Mica Mountain High School’s Sonia “Soso” Okpara.
The 17-year-old senior is a star player on the girls varsity volleyball team and a star in the classroom — and the proof is all in the numbers.
Okpara is currently ranked No. 2 in Arizona for her .454 hitting percentage.
As the girls volleyball regular season came to a close last week, Okpara soaked up every second of playing with her Mica Mountain team for the last time, which finished the regular season with a record of 15-2.
“We’re approaching the end and I’m realizing how much high school volleyball has impacted my life and how much its made me happy and I’m realizing just how much its given me because it’s coming to a close,” she said before the season ended. “It’s bittersweet because I’m happy to play this last night with my teammates and to be able to have the opportunity to do that. And also, I don’t want it to end, but I know that I have more opportunities ahead for me, as well.”
Soso Okpara warms up before a match against Sabino Canyon at Mica Mountain on Oct. 23, 2024.
After she graduates in May, Okpara will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, where she is committed to playing Division I volleyball.
She was also accepted into the U.S. Military Academy, also known as West Point, in New York, but opted to go to Air Force due to its STEM programs. Okpara says she’s “excited and ready for the opportunities” the academy will provide.
Okpara plans to study medicine and ultimately become an OBGYN or surgical doctor specializing in women’s and children’s health care.
“I’m overjoyed and also surprised,” she said of attending the Air Force Academy. “I’m grateful that I’m capable enough to be able to play at that level, at the DI level, because as an athlete, sometimes, a lot of time, I struggle with feeling like, ‘Oh, am I good enough in these areas?’ And being able to commit to Air Force, I feel like it made me more confident in my skills as a player, as well as a person.”
But before she heads off to college, her focus remains right here in Arizona as she and the rest of the Mica Mountain team work to win the state championship later this month.
“This is my last season, so it’s really sad, but I am looking forward to state (championship),” she said. “Our team goal this year is to win state. So, I’m looking forward to the state competition season and just seeing how my team will be able to come together and be able to beat some of those Phoenix teams or beat some of those teams that will challenge us more than our schedule did in Tucson and just hopefully make it to the state championship.”
Soso Okpara is currently ranked No. 2 in Arizona for her .454 hitting percentage.
Although her confidence occasionally falters, that doesn’t ever bring her down for more than a second or two. Okpara’s positive attitude and kindness are evident in everything that she does.
Mica Mountain volleyball coach Amy Johnson describes Okpara as fiercely competitive and athletic.
“She’s more on the quiet side, I think, than some of the girls, but her actions and the way she carries herself on and off the court, she does a really good job of the leading girls,” Johnson said. “She’s our best attacker on the team. So, they look up to her and she’s done a really good job of leading them this year.”
When Okpara isn’t leading on the court, you’ll find her leading in the classroom. Currently, Okpara has a 5.16 GPA — yes, you read that correctly.
She is the current president of Mica Mountain’s AP (Advanced Placement) Club, which helps raise money for students’ AP tests. This year, the club was able to pay for two of each club member’s tests, which averages around $98 each. She’s also a member of the school’s Diversity Alliance Club.
“(That club) is also really important to me because being a Black woman at a PWI (predominantly white institution), I’ve had some trouble being able to express myself in my culture,” she said. “So, I feel like that club has really made it easy for me to be able to do that and have a space where I’ve been able to do that and also to honor that space, as well.”
Okpara’s clubs are just a part of her academic journey as she’s received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including from the College Board’s National African American Recognition Program and honors every single semester.
However, being a star student is no easy feat and occasionally requires sacrifices, like missing out on hanging out with friends or going to school football games on Friday nights.
Soso Okpara walks with her family during a senior night ceremony at Mica Mountain high school on Oct. 23, 2024.
The pressure of being successful on and off the court can be stressful and overwhelming at times. But, whenever Okpara begins to feel that way, she turns to her faith to get her through challenging times.
“I’m a Christian, so I trust in God and I believe that he helps me through it, as well,” she said.
Okpara has played volleyball since middle school and says she loves the team aspect of the sport. She’s most looking forward to finishing up her time with Mica Mountain, participating in the state tournament and meeting her new teammates at Air Force.
“In football or basketball, you’ll see the team supporting each other a lot because it’s a contact sport. I see a lot of contact sports and how they’re all very supportive of each other and a lot of love going around for each other,” she said. “Even though volleyball isn’t a contact sport, I feel like there’s still a lot of love on the team. And I feel like with every volleyball team, there’s so much support for everybody.”
Get to know Soso
Senior volleyball player Soso Okpara is wrapping up her final season at Mica Mountain High School.
What is your go-to pre-match snack?
Chocolate-covered Pocky.
What is your current hype song?
“First Person Shooter” by Drake.
If you could be sponsored by any athletic brand, which brand would it be?
Nike. (She says that she likes that Nike encourages competitiveness among athletes).
What are three things you always have in your gym bag?
A workout band, Aquaphor and an extra set of kneepads.
What is your current favorite class?
AP research. (Okpara is currently researching Sickle Cell Disease).
