Aidan Choi '23 Recruiting Profile

My height, athleticism, and coordination provided a great foundation as an outside hitter. Within a year of starting volleyball, I became a starting outside for my varsity team and was nominated as team captain and League MVP runner-up by the end of the year. In my second year (junior year), I started playing club, and by the end of the year our team qualified for nationals and I was gifted with the 2022 Proplay Player of the Year award. In my school season, I was awarded All-CIF, League MVP, and led our team from losing first-round CIF last year to falling just short in the semifinals, in which I recorded 29 kills. 

My improvement has been exponential, especially this past year, and I am still far from reaching my peak. Playing at the collegiate level is my goal, and I am confident that my work ethic and passion for the game will further my meteoric rise. I've become so infatuated and obsessed with volleyball that actions that were once foreign, such as tracking my nutritional intake and analyzing previous game footage were now a part of my daily journey to honing my volleyball skillset. I pride myself on always being the first one in the gym to being the last person putting away equipment. All of my teammates would always joke about my sweaty back imprints and butt marks from laying on the gym floor out of pure exhaustion, but I take it as a reflection of my hard work and unwillingness to give up.

Through my hard work and dedication, I've created a thorough and versatile skillset. Firstly, I have a very dynamic swing and a large array of shots that I utilize effectively depending on the situation: sharp line, deep angle, roll shot to the middle of the court, and more. I've expanded my field of view while hitting which allows me to expose seams within the block and pick empty spots within the court. Secondly, my court awareness and volleyball IQ allow me to understand my opponents' tendencies. Understanding these tendencies also translates to effective blocks; despite the majority of my competition being taller than me, I rack up many blocks due to my careful timing and ability to read the hitter. 

Furthermore, I am very confident in my foundations, especially in serve receive. Thousands of reps using the serving machine have allowed me to develop a solid platform, smooth hands, and quick efficient movements to be able to pass any type of serve high to area 3. As a defender, I excel due to my proactivity and attentiveness. I step into the seams and I am never afraid to get hit by the ball to get it up, and understanding the hitter's tendencies allows me to be in line to get hit by the ball. Being involved with competitive sports all my life I've gained very good coordination and body control where timing and quick reactions come naturally. 

Now academically, I have a strong fascination for business, and one of the most important qualities of being a successful businessman is being a leader. Volleyball has played a massive role in my leadership development. I've gradually learned how to effectively motivate others and establish discipline within the team. Being a respectable leader entails working harder than the rest so that you can lead by example, and I believe my work ethic and grit allow me to inspire and lead my teammates.

Ultimately, volleyball provided a community and environment that allowed me to be the best possible version of myself. Volleyball allowed me to push myself in the classroom and on the court. I've cultivated many important relationships and immensely evolved my character through volleyball. Playing at the collegiate level would further advance my exponential improvement in the sport and push me to go beyond my boundaries.