Michael Young '16 Recruiting Profile

I'm a high school junior who started volleyball late in 7th grade, after a friend convinced me to attend a Bones practice after a year of saying "no"... I loved it, and after the first night, decided to set aside soccer to play volleyball.  Bones VBC is an exceptional club team, and I was very fortunate to have this as my starting place.  Great coaching and a extraordinary team environment helped us progress from Top 12 to Top 5 in two years in Boy's Open USAV JNC's.  My role as setter was shared with a strong friend and competitor - we constantly pushed each other to learn and excel.  Our shared goals and conversations made us stronger and more team-focused.  We both love hitting and blocking, so running a 6-2 gave us those opportunities.

In 2013 I made a tough choice for personal growth and development, and left Bones to start as SMBC-17's setter.  This was a team of experienced coaches and players who I looked up to since I'd started volleyball.  They had also earned 3rd place at 2013 Boys16 Open the year before.  It was the opportunity of a lifetime.  What I thought would be a great and successful season turned into a challenging lesson. Different dynamics and mixed levels of commitment made this group unlike the previous year, and we struggled to be a "team".  I accept my part and role in this as setter, and continue to take away from this experience the importance of creating "team" and competing with a vision.

I will start again in 2015 as Varsity setter for Westlake High School.  Personal goals are to help create a team environment, and as setter become a stronger leader.  I will bring my setting to the next level with faster, stronger play and solid defense.  Team goals are to win League, and help Westlake back into CIF Finals this year and next, winning a CIF Championship by my Senior year.  Academic goals are to raise my GPA to 3.5 so I can play college volleyball at the highest level possible, and contribute to a strong, excellent university program that offers a great education for my future plans beyond sports...