Emma Kleven '17 Recruiting Profile

The first time I first touched a volleyball I knew I would fall in love with the sport. The constant action, the competition,  and tight knit team atmosphere were what I loved the most. I was a fourth grader playing Boys and Girls Club recreational volleyball.  From there I moved on to competitive Club volleyball then on to Varsity High School volleyball. I do not want my journey to end here. I am hoping to extend my journey with the sport I love by playing at the collegiate level.  I can not imagine my life not playing volleyball in a competitive atmosphere.  I am driven and hardworking in every aspect of my life constantly striving to be the very best I can be. I never settle and will go above and beyond to prove myself. In my experiences as a volleyball player I have overcome many obstacles and realized the importance of  strong mental toughness. This, combined with my skill, is what sets me apart from other athletes. I can handle adversity and it only makes me work harder to overcome the challenges. I am calm and collected on the court allowing my teammates to turn to me for direction, stability and consistency. I thrive in high pressure situations and want nothing more than to be on the court in those instances.  As a setter I am the quarterback of the team, the leader, and I embrace that role fully.  I was selected MVP of my high school team and awarded 1st team All Conference as a result of my hard work and dedication.

My academic goals include receiving a college education while hopefully continuing to play the sport I am passionate about.  I love the coast and would love to attend a college where I can go to the ocean, but do not intend on limiting myself geographically. Growing up in Alaska I am in the middle of nature and would love to combine that with a bigger city feel. Growing up in a small area has made me want to go to a bigger school where I can experience a different way of living. I am very interested in psychology and how the human brain works in social and athletic settings, but I am still researching possible career paths for myself.

Over the summer I did strength training and working on increasing my jump reach to be a more effective blocker. I have also been working on using my left hand as a setter more effectively as an offensive weapon.  

This past high school season I accomplished a lot of my goals. I was on all 3 tournament teams that my conference holds; the Chugiak Invitational, the West Spiketacular, and the Service-Dimond Tournament. I was also named 1st Team All-Conference and 1st-Team All-State. I have also been nominated for Gatorade Player of the Year, which we will find out who wins that in January. 

It's my to dream to be a college athlete.  I hope to have the opportunity to show you what an asset I can be for your team and to show you the contributions I can make.