Aliana Butler '21 Recruiting Profile

The first time I ever stepped foot on a volleyball court was my eighth grade year; I did not do very good but the game itself was intriguing and very fun to me. So I practiced by myself for fun over the summer going into my freshman year of high school. I got put on the freshman team and was our leader throughout the whole season. My passion for the game grew as my teammates looked up to me. My father passed right after my freshman volleyball season. This is where I took volleyball to another level; during the summer, I did all the volleyball camps my school offered. I focused all my attention on volleyball as a distraction. For my Sophmore volleyball season, I got the opportunity to go on varsity but the coach couldn't promise me playing time. So I wnt to JV where I started and helped carry the team; in the middle of our JV season, the Varsity coach pulled me up and I became a starter as a middle on the Varsity team. During that time, my coach moved me around and put me on the right side.  Sadly, in the beginning of my Junior year, I got a double sprain on my right ankle during practice and lost my starting spot. I have since, gained my strength back in my ankle and I got to play as an outside, middle, and right side for our school varsity team. 

When my school season was over, I felt incomplete and highly aggravated about how my season went. I felt like I worked too hard to get to where I was and one sprained ankle pushed me back so far. So I spent every day in the weight room until club started. This club season of 2020 was my first ever club experience, I tried out as an outside for three clubs, got denied by two; but that did not make me give up. The third club I tried out for was full of outsides so I tried out as a middle and got an offer right away. I got on the team Next Level and was their middle. Wistfully, our season got cut short because of the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic.

I am passionate about being a good leader on the court, and I love working harder to become the best volleyball player I can be. I have a strong mental and physical drive; I do not give up. I am doing what I can at home during the pandemic, to make sure I am ready to compete at a college level. I feel like my passion and high spirits will be great for a family-like team. 

My aspirations are to find a college team that has a loving and warming culture with great leadership, diversity, passion, and mentorship.