Avery Bland '24 Recruiting Profile

Hi coaches! My name is Avery Bland. I grew up in Castro Valley, California and currently attend Castro Valley High School. I began playing school volleyball at the age of 11 and club volleyball at the age of 12. I had experimented my interests in other sports growing up, but once I touched a volleyball I immediately sparked such a great passion for it. Throughout my teenage years majority of my life is spent on the court striving to grow into the player I have always aspired to be, and with free time working out in the gym. Outside of my volleyball life, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, making memories I know will last a lifetime. During school I have found interest in the subject of psychology and I’m currently continuing to study psych at Ohlone College. Not only are the subjects fascinating itself, but the idea of understanding the mind and how to help people get back on a positive mental track and lifestyle is what grabs my attention the most. 

On my high school team and club team, I was a primary Outside Hitter and secondary Opposite Hitter. My first position I began playing was Outside Hitter. Throughout my club years, I have worked with many different coaches who have helped me transition to both Opposite as a secondary position to be able to build my skills on hitting both pin positions on the court. Although being challenged with learning new aspects, I believe it has helped me build more motivation and confidence as a player along with the ability to be more versatile. I believe being a hitter has helped me create close connections with my teammates from all teams which is something I truly value. Both on and off of the court, I prioritize the bonds with my teammates and recognize their successes athletically and academically. I am coachable, and willing to recognize my errors and follow up on how to fix them. Playing at the next level is one of my goals, and I will work as hard as I need to in order to reach that goal. Thank you!