Sean Becker ‘19 Recruiting Profile

Personal Statement

My name is Sean Becker and I am currently a Senior (class of 2019) at Benet Academy, a college preparatory high school. My GPA is 4.15 on a 4.0 scale, my ACT Score is a 34, and my PSAT score is 1430 qualifying for Commended National Merit Scholar.  I currently play for Hitmen VBC on the 18-1 Elite team as the starter Libero. This past Club season we finished 15th in the 18's Open Division at Nationals (I played a year up due to my August birth date). We also placed in gold bracket at the Palos #4 Series Tournament, and won 1^st place at the Lewis Invite this year defeating SPVB’s highest ranked team at that point in the season for the title.

I have been playing volleyball since I was 9 years old and watching my older brother since I was 5. I learned a lot watching from the sidelines cheering him in some of his biggest games; but mostly, I learned to love this sport. I started to play competitively in 5^th grade at my grade school and in a club program which at the time was co-ed. Much has changed in club volleyball since then, and I want to continue to be part of the evolution in Men’s Volleyball.

In total I have been playing 8 years honing my skills and learning from phenomenal coaches. Along the way I have made great friends, won championships, and received honors and awards. My grade school team, which participated in the DuPage Parochial League in the western suburbs of Illinois, won 1^st place Championships in both 7^th and 8^th grade. Slowly, I was making a name for myself as coaches and refs would ask me what high school I would be attending and what Club I played for. I always played for smaller clubs. I loved the challenge of being the underdog team. I loved taking the victory that was unexpected. Through the years, I have been the starter setter, outside hitter, and most recently the starter Libero for the teams I have played on.

I began my Freshman year at Benet Academy as the starter Libero on the JV team. Once again, we accomplished something that wasn’t expected—1^st place in the ESCC JV division in addition to winning the St. Francis Invite. As a freshman on JV, I was given the award of “Highest Volleyball IQ.” In my Sophomore year I made the Varsity team playing as the starter DS. It was a rebuild year for Benet, and no one expected anything as we had graduated our entire starting lineup of Seniors the prior year. Nonetheless, we managed to finish 2^nd in Conference and were even listed in the top 10 in DuPage County as we accumulated more wins than were expected. I also received the honor of All Tournament. Last season, I was the starter Libero on Varsity and received the honors of All-Conference in the challenging ESCC League, along with All Tournament at the Tiger Classic and year end Team awards of Highest Serve Percentage and Aces and Highest Serve Receive and Digs. As a team we won Regionals, made it to Semi-Sectionals and finished 3rd in Conference.  This year I look forward to my Senior year on Varsity as Captain and starter libero again.

Club volleyball has been my life these last 8 years. I have been greatly challenged playing a year up due to my August birth date and having to compete with athletes older than I am all the years I played club. I have played on Hitmen Elite the last two years and we achieved great success earning a bid this past season and finishing 15th at Nationals in the Open 18's Division, beating many "big name" notable teams during the season. I look forward to playing with my peers for the first time in the 18's division this year after playing up for the last several years. Prior to Hitmen, I played club at West-Suburban Storm (starter Libero on 1's teams) and Naperville Volleyball Club (starter outside hitter) in my earlier years.

I want to continue this journey in college finding an excellent academic and athletic fit. Eventually I will finish school and move onto a career, but I know I will play and/or coach volleyball for as long as I physically can.

I am a fiercely dedicated athlete that devotes as much time as possible to the sport I love. I am all about the team, motiving my teammates to victory whether I’m standing next to them on the court or cheering and strategizing from the bench. In addition to all the training above, I have trained at top camps including SPVB/Benedictine Libero Camp, Loyola High Performance Ramblers Camp and the HP USAV Camp. I have never missed a game or tournament in all those years, and I have worked hard to excel academically so that I can focus on my sport without distraction.

So, what sets me apart from all the other great Libero’s at great clubs that have many accolades? I thrive on the pressure of game point, being the underdog, and motivating my teammates in those stressful moments telling them “we can do this. I’ve got the pass; you put down the kill.” I’m very vocal on the court. It’s not about intimidation. In fact, I’m been described as the nicest and happiest kid that makes everyone feel comfortable. My coaches have described me as fearless. I want the ball to come to me if the score is 24-24. I know what I have to do, and I’ve put in the time to make it happen. I believe in myself; and more importantly, I believe in my teammates. I understand the calm, focus and leadership required when intensity is high, and the goal is to win. But someone wins, and someone has to lose. As I step onto that court in that moment…. I believe in the team and the win, and that’s what sets me apart.