Ethan Makishima '20 Recruiting Profile

I have a lot of volleyball experience playing on an elite team with high caliber coaches for several years and as a result, I have developed a pretty high volleyball IQ and a versatile skill set.   I started to play volleyball at the age of 12 (6th grade).  I have played 4 years of club volleyball playing for Mountain View Volleyball Club (MVVC) located in Northern California.  My team has been first in Northern California for 13’s, 14’s, 15’s, and 16’s.  We consistently qualify for the open division at Boys' Junior Nationals and took 5th in the nation in both 2017 (15 Open) and 2018 (16 Open).  I was the starting middle during my 15’s and 16’s years. 

I also play a lot of volleyball outside of practice and tournaments.  I often play at open gyms on weeks that I don't have a tournament and I also play outdoor doubles.  I gain a lot of experience by doing these activities and I am becoming more versatile and can play multiple positions.  I am typically the middle that will serve and play defense for half a rotation for the back row. In fact, in some games I even play all the way around without getting replaced by the libero in the back row. In high school, I play some opposite as well.  I feel that I not only can be successful at middle, but even at other positions as well like Opposite or Outside Hitter.

I am very coachable and quick to learn things the coach tells me from things that the coach wants to work on in practice or small adjustments.  Through the different teams I have played with (high school, club, and high performance), I am usually the leading blocker on the team statistically even though some of the other middles have been much taller than me.  I do this by watching the play (ball, setter, ball, hitter) and reacting to the set and the hitters approach and executing the right footwork and form.  I was also the leading server on my high school team my freshman year.

I have a strong work ethic, which has helped me in my development.  During my very first year of playing I was tall for my age, but also awkward, skinny, not very strong, and unsure of myself. Through hard work, persistence and maturation, every year I improved, got stronger and more coordinated. This shows my work ethic and character.   I also feel that I have lot of upside given I’m still consistently improving.  I also recently started working out and paying more attention to my nutrition in order to get stronger.  I gained about 20 pounds of muscle over the past year and am still getting stronger.  By the time I get to college I should have grown into my body.

I am not just determined in volleyball, but also in high school.  I just finished my sophomore year in high school.  My favorite subjects are math and science.  I have A’s and B’s in all my classes.  I took AP Computer Science and Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus Honors my sophomore year.  My junior year I am taking AP Calculus BC, Advanced Computer Science, and Physics.  I’m looking for a college that is the right volleyball and academic fit.

I’m still rapidly advancing physically, with my game, and academically.  If given the chance, I believe I can be a strong addition to a college volleyball program as well as succeed academically in college.