Emily Pender '20 Recruiting Profile

Hi, I’m Emily Pender, a first generation American born in Boston, MA to Irish parents.  I have lived most of my life in the Reno, NV area and am currently a Senior at Reed HS in Sparks, NV.  I have been playing volleyball for 6 years and I am a 6'1" Middle Blocker on the 18-1 team for Northern Nevada Juniors Volleyball Club (NNJ).

My favorite aspect of volleyball are the relationships I get to build with other players and coaches and the lessons I learn from them. I have been selected for the USAV HP program each of the last three years, where I really enjoyed the pace of play, level of competition, and the great friends I made among my peers.

My goal with volleyball is to go as far as it will take me, and I'm not afraid to work for it.  I always sets high standards and expectations for myself and because of this I’m very open to new ideas and change in order to succeed, not only personally, but also in a team setting. I’m extremely driven toward the physical and mental aspect of volleyball and it has become a very big part of my life. I thrive not just in the team setting, but also in the additional commitment required to improve my skills and conditioning.

In addition to playing volleyball in college, I am interested in studying in Architecture or Graphic Arts.  During my off time I’m either painting, reading, exploring the outdoors, or spending time with family and friends.