Caylee Sharkey '22 Recruiting Profile

I have been interested in volleyball ever since I can remember.  I recall attending summer camps from ages 5-9 years old.  When I was ten years old, I was invited to play on the Club Fusion travel team.  After three years of playing volleyball at Club Fusion, I decided to switch clubs to play with Sport Performance.  Since joining the club, I have experienced a great deal of competition as well as a rigorous practice schedule that includes being in the gym six days a week.  The increased challenges have only pushed me to work harder to better myself for the next five years of my volleyball career.

In life, I have always aspired to do my personal best both in school and on the volleyball court.  As a student, at Sycamore High School, I am proud to say that academically I rank within the top ten percent of students in my graduating class as I consistently earn A's in all honors classes.  As a High School player, I have played on the varsity team at both Rosary and Sycamore High Schools earning the scholar athlete and the academic all-conference awards for both my Freshman and Sophomore years.  I would like to continue to challenge myself academically and athletically at the college level.

As a club volleyball player, I have achieved academic All-American as well as All-American Honors at the 2019 AAU Nationals.  Additionally, as an outside hitter, I helped my team to achieve third place at AAU Nationals for two years in a row in both open and club divisions.  In 2019, as a right-side hitter, I helped our team earn second place in the open division at JVAs.  I was also invited to spend my spring break scrimmaging against the Chinese National Team in Shenyang, China with Sports Performance Team 18 KAHL.

In 2020, I continued to contribute to my club team’s successes as an all-around opposite hitter placing second place at the President’s Day tournament before our season was cut short by Covid-19.  Despite Covid-19, I competed in-and won- multiple summer EVP beach volleyball tournaments as I continued to work out and practice.  

Due to Covid-19, Illinois' 2020 High School season was postponed until spring which made it possible for the Sport's Performance Club season to begin training in August.  So, essentially, I have not only been able to continue training, but I have done so at a highly competitive level against the other talented players in my club and players from other clubs throughout the Midwest. 

This year, I decided to forgo my 2021 High School season to continue to compete on the club level throughout the spring.  I subsequently competed in multiple tournaments as a right-side hitter on Sport’s Performance 18 -KAHL where, amongst other victories, we won second place in 18 Open at the 2021 JVA World Championship tournament and third place in 18 Premier at the 2021 AAU National Championship.

Volleyball has taught me teamwork, camaraderie, competition, how to face challenges and to push myself to do my personal best.  It has also enabled me to travel and to make lifelong friendships.

I look forward to speaking with you about how I can contribute to your team.