I love this flashback, I was so excited to go to my first Navy Volleyball Camp, it was an incredible experience. This was my first camp. Day 1 was libero training day. I was nervous about day 1 beause I have been setter for years. Day 2 was so much fun because it was the Setter skills camp. I was so excited to work on my setting, and I was being picked up right at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium – it’s amazing here!

I love this flashback, I was so excited to go to my first Navy Volleyball Camp, it was an incredible experience. This was my first camp. Day 1 was libero training day. I was nervous about day 1 beause I have been setter for years. Day 2 was so much fun because it was the Setter skills camp. I was so excited to work on my setting, and I was being picked up right at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium – it’s amazing here! #NavyVolleyballCamp #GoNavyBeatArmy

#NavyVolleyballCamp #GoNavyBeatArmy

Unforgettable weekend at Red Rock Rave National Qualifiers! Love the competition in USA division & proud of our team for giving their all. The energy on the court was electric, grateful for the opportunity to be part of it all. #RedRockRave #USAdivision #Teamwork #volleyball

Last week we played in the Las Vegas Classic Volleyball Tournament, and it was an experience that I will never forget. Our team went into the first day undefeated, with a 3-0 record, and we were looking strong. However, on the tournament’s second game, our setter and outside hitter sprained her ankle and was out for the rest of the weekend. Despite this setback, our team made the necessary adjustments and still managed to go undefeated for the day.

We were so excited.

But the second day of the tournament brought even more challenges. We found out that our other setter and outside hitter got extremely sick and had to leave before we even played the first game on day two..

Now our team was down two key players, and my coach asked me to play setter, a position I hadn’t played in a few years.

The next two matches were intense and went to three sets each. Unfortunately, we lost both games, but we managed to regroup and win our final match in three sets.

Overall, this experience taught me so much about teamwork, resilience, and the importance of being prepared for anything.

Losing two key players in the middle of the tournament was tough, but it also gave us a chance to step up and support each other in new ways. We had to be ready to make adjustments, and every player had to be prepared to step up and cover for each other when needed.

We had to trust each other and communicate effectively to ensure we were all on the same page.

Playing setter was fun, it was the position I started in volleyball, it was fun to play it again and realize how important that position is to the team and learned more about how I can improve my game as DS/Libero.

I had to be focused, quick-thinking, and stay calm under pressure. This experience reminded me that I need to be ready to adapt to any situation that comes my way and that the only way to do that is to be prepared, practice, and stay focused.

Ultimately, this tournament taught me that a team is only as strong as its weakest link.

Every player on the team plays a critical role, and we all need to be ready to step up and support each other when needed. I’m grateful for this experience and excited to see what the future holds for our team. Thanks for reading!

I am so excited to be returning to Navy Volleyball College Prep and Elite camp at Annapolis for my third year in a row this July; this is especially meaningful because the United States Naval Academy is my dream school and number one college choice.

The camp provides an incredible opportunity to train with experienced coaches such as Head Coach Paco, Taylor, and Coach Josie. I can’t wait to work with them again and am eager to continue learning, honing my skills, and growing as an athlete. This will give me a chance to take one more step closer to achieving my goal of playing volleyball at Navy!

Last year camp Elite Camp below.

I survived, yes, surviving a challenging and eventful first semester of sophomore year, I’m proud to report that my hard work paid off.

I am at a 4.6 GPA in my classes: Honors English, Honors Math 3, Honors Chemistry, AP European History (my toughest class yet), Spanish 3, Student Government, and Volleyball – not bad at all!

I am ranked 13 in my class of 690, and I took my PSAT test for the first time and did really well in the language portion. Still, now its time to do some extra study on math. I will be retaking it in February.

I am staying focused on my goal of USNA admission.

Volleyball continues -High School volleyball finished; club volley is kicking off this holiday season- what better way than reaching those goals?

Time for a little holiday shopping, relaxation, and playing with Bruno.

Oh yeah, Navy Football lost this year; that was a bummer. But we will be back Next Year! This was when I got a chance to go to Army-Navy Game when my brother ran the ball to the game with the 13th Company back in 2019.

It was such an amazing year, and I am so happy to have been a part of this team. We came in first place for our division! I learned so much about being a Captain and Leader of a team. I am proud when they selected me as their Best Defense player while earning both my Scholar-Athlete Award. It was amazing year I was pulled up at varsity few varsity games, a tournament & CIF playoff game. So much fun! Now its time to get started with new VB club.

I am excited to start my new club season with a new team and coaches. This new journey promises to be filled with challenges, growth opportunities, and fun!

I’ve been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old, and now that I’m in high school, I am ready to take my game to the next level. I’m looking forward to learning new techniques, competing against different teams, and becoming an even better player.

My new coaches have already made a great impression on me and I believe they will help guide our team to success. The fun part of this season there is their girls with the name Bella. That will make for fun game!

The idea of serving on a youth advisory committee is something that has been eye-opening for me. It’s hard to believe its been almost a year now.

I’m so glad I got involved with this group because it’s given me an opportunity to be more aware understand and give input to our community about our local youths and assit with local community events.

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”

— Earl Nightingale

When you played volleyball for over five years, one of your dreams is to make the High School Varsity team. 

As a Freshman, I made my junior varsity team as a setter and became starting setter; and we had a fantastic year. I felt I  was on the road to make the varsity team as sophomore.

During my freshman year, I also started to look at my dream school, United States Naval Academy. even went to a couple of summer volleyball camps at the Naval Academy. After my last visit this summer, I knew this place for me!

My college prep coach, Phil Black from Prepwell Academy told me to look at the “metrics” of D1 starters at my dream school and D1 schools in positions I would play.

Then it hit me when I realized that the average height for the setters at Navy(D1) was 5’10 to 6′, I knew I would never grow get 5’10”, let alone 6 foot. I am only 5’7”. I didn’t want my height to be issuew with college recruiters.

I did find out the average height of D1 Libero/DS is 5’6” and the average height for Navy’s DS/Libero for the 2022 Roster. Its 5’8’. 

So I made a hard decision halfway through club season with IV Force to start training as DS. 

I loved setting. My high school coach encourage me to continue setting, but I knew I needed to change the position to DS or Libero to get to my dream.

When club season started last year I was training as setter and DS, but I knew I had to pick a position. I switched positions on my Club team in February 2022 to full-time DS and no more setting.

For high school tryouts I went for Libero/DS position. I tried out for spot that I had only played five months.  Instead of position I played for over 5 years.

I was happy to be selected as starting Libero for our JV team. 

My dream to make varsity as a sophomore would be delayed, my club teammates and close friends made Varsity and I was so happy for them.

I also made another tough decision this summer, decided to try out for a new club, Rancho Valley Volleyball Club. They were larger club and competitive club that made nationals last year. 

I was excited to be selected to their 16 Select volleyball team as their Libero. 

These changes will allow me to improve skills as libero, get stronger, and faster, to be a leader on my JV and club team and get the playing time I need to play competitively and eventually become a collegiate volleyball player.

I am so grateful to my teammates at IV Force to my coaches, Coach Kyle, Coach Kim, I learned so much from them

But now I will concentrate on my new position and now taking private lessons with Ranch Valley VB Club, Premier Coach Vinnie to become a competitive Libero and attending RVVC College Prep-Elite Position Clinics through August and September.

This was so hard of a decision, but for now, my dream is on hold to make varsity, so I can achieve my long-term dream of playing Volleyball at the United States Navy Academy.

Oh yeah, I still need to figure out how to manage: English 10 Honors, Math 3 Honors(Engineering), AP Chemistry, AP European History, Spanish III and my duties on Secretary/Treasurer of Student Council and Youth Advisory committe with Yucaipa City Council. But that is for another blog post 😉

This was my 2nd year at Navy Academy Volleyball camp was amazing. I got to play with great girls and hang out with some of their recruits, most importantly getting coached by Assistant Coaches Taylor van der Biezen or Josie Andres!

I know attending the USNA is my #1 choice for college – it’s a dream come true being Volleyball player on such an awesome team (Navy VB).

Can’t wait until next year!