Ryan Slater '23 Recruiting Profile

I am Ryan Slater from Santa Barbara California, Class of 2023, a versatile 6’ outside hitter and libero. As a sophomore I played varsity for Santa Barbara High School, Channel League and CIF Champions for the Southern Section in 2021. I also started for the Santa Barbara Coast Volleyball Club team for each of the past 3 years both as an outside hitter and a libero. We have appeared in the Junior Nationals Open Division twice and finished 11th in 2019.

I have been blessed with the good fortune of living close to the beach and I take advantage of my opportunities to play volleyball year-round. Before Covid, I qualified for the California Cup beach volleyball tournament, and played in Manhattan Beach in 2019. Having developed a love for the sport of volleyball, my dream is to continue playing it through college.

I support my year-round play with weight and plyometric training 5 days a week. I also work with specialist coaches in improving my play. For example, in addition to my high school and former club Coach Chad Arneson, I have been coached by excellent collegiate and professional players, Matt Thobe (OH), Michael Neary (Setter) and I am now working with Hayden Boehle (OH/Libero). 

While volleyball is my passion, academics are a priority for me. I have earned a 4.6 GPA at Santa Barbara High, taking both honors and advanced placement courses.

In addition, I believe it is important to be involved in the culture and community of my High School. I am proud to have been elected by my peers as student body class president for each of the past 3 years.

For all these reasons, I believe I can contribute to the university environment as a student athlete that leads by example. I hope to find a college that will accept me for being a strong-willed and enthusiastic student athlete that desires the opportunity to benefit from competition, in and out of the classroom.