Amaya Bernardo '22 Recruiting Profile

Playing college volleyball is a once in a lifetime opportunity that would be a part of me for the rest of my life. I started my volleyball career when I was 8 years old and started playing when I was in elementary school. When I first started, the reason I played was because my mom told me to try it out to see if I would like it. Now at 17, my love for volleyball is unconditional.

I am an outside hitter for my high school team and play as an outside hitter and/or defensive specialist for my club volleyball team. I’ve been playing for a little more than 9 years and am ready to take on the next level of volleyball, the collegiate level.

Playing volleyball is what I’ve grown up learning but playing competitively while earning my college degree is priceless. I was raised by a single mother who would do anything for me and my younger sister, who also plays volleyball. My mom did everything she could to give my sister and I what we wanted, from snacks to driving 30+ miles one way for a private lesson and/or practices. She made the ultimate sacrifice in working 8-10 hours a day, then taking us to practice for another 2-4 hours. Teamwork, accountability, responsibility, and constructive criticism is what my mom believed that playing sports would help me understand “life after volleyball”.

I look up to my mom. Going to college is a steppingstone to my future but playing volleyball and earning my degree is the biggest gift I can give my mom in return for the sacrifice and dedication she has given to me.

Hard work, sacrifice, and dedication is what it takes for me to succeed and reach my goal to be proud and make my family proud. I would be a great addition to your program, as I have grown to understand that it takes hard work and criticism to be better, it takes responsibility to be accountable, and it takes teamwork to win.