Layla Hassell '22 Recruiting Profile

Most people would describe me as dedicated, confident, strong and funny.  I have a unique ability to let my competitive spirit shine through on the court while rallying my teammates with my infectious energy and positivity.  As a multi-sport athlete, I have learned how to manage my time and make sacrifices in order to be the best possible version of myself.  Not only do I have a passion for volleyball, but I am the former goalkeeper for the #1 ranked soccer team in Canada, and #13 ranked team in North America - Woodbridge Strikers OPDL.  While playing both soccer and volleyball, I trained and competed 5-6 days per week, and still managed to earn Honor Roll in the Spring of 2018.  In the Fall of 2018, I made the decision to commit myself to volleyball, retiring from soccer, but continuing to play various sports at the varsity high school level, having been accepted into Bill Crothers SS, a sports-focused high school for high performance athletes.

I began playing volleyball at the age of 11, and spent my first 4 seasons as a member of the Aurora Storm Hurricanes.  In that time, I helped my team to a 5th, 4th, and 2nd place finish in the province of Ontario.   This year, I joined 17-1 Pakmen, one of the best clubs in Canada.  At the age of 12, I was the youngest player in Ontario to be selected to the Provincial (Ontario) "Tall Maples" High Performance program.  A year later, I was selected to represent Region 5 (Greater Toronto Area), as a 13-year-old, at the 2018 Ontario Summer Games.  There, we competed against the other top players in the province of Ontario, and came away with the gold medal, going undefeated in 10 games.  In the Fall of 2018, I was chosen to train in Volleyball Canada's Regional Excellence Program and in May 2019, I was selected to the U15 Team Ontario High Performance program and was recently selected to U17/U18 Team Ontario.  I also spend time each summer playing on the Ontario Beach Volleyball Tour.

Having been born in Connecticut, and enjoying both American and Canadian citizenship, I recently moved back to North Carolina to pursue my dreams of playing collegiate volleyball.  I plan on studying Kinesiology, EMT, Athletic Therapy or Nutrition.  I am considering a career as a Paramedic, Nutritionist, or in the field of Athletic Training / Physiotherapy.  I have been a volunteer youth soccer and volleyball coach for 2 years and plan on continuing to give back to the sports that have shaped who I am.