Ava Cianciotto '23 Recruiting Profile

I recognize that playing volleyball is a privilege and I’m filled with honor and pride every time I step onto the court.  I hope to earn the privilege to play at the college level. I haven’t decided on the type of college I want to attend but I know I want to contribute to a competitive team with a coach that values work ethic and teamwork.  I developed a passion for volleyball at the age of 10 playing recreational with my mom as my coach. My mom taught me skills while my father taught me how to play aggressively. They taught me how to be confident but not cocky and kept me humble. I advanced to the club level in 7^th grade and have continued to grow and develop as a player.  One of my greatest accomplishments is earning a spot on Varsity as an 8^th grader and being awarded ‘All Tournament Player”.

My career goal is to become a orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries. As an athlete, I know how important it is to receive quality care from a physician who truly understands what an athlete’s body is subjected to and how to properly care for it.   I’m confident my pre-Ap and AP classes will help prepare me for college academics.

I’ve overcome many obstacles while playing volleyball but my biggest one was changing positions from MB to DS. I was being out pressed by 6’0 tall middles but my coaches kept me there because I’m smart, quick and I’m able to place the ball.  I was done growing at 5”6” and quickly realized I wouldn’t make it very far as a middle. I played DS my first time as a freshman in High School. It was challenging but as team captain I had to rise to the challenge for the team. When my teammates are struggling, I offer words of encouragement and a positive attitude. Now they were encouraging me! I put in the work and I caught on fast. My court IQ and experience as a MB paid off. My ability to read a hit gave me a clear advantage. I can tell where a hitter is going to place the ball almost every time. Volleyball has taught me real world lessons like adjusting to difficult situations and how to make quick but smart decisions.  I can’t imagine not playing volleyball. I’m currently a freshman and 3 more years to train and develop before college. I’m excited to see what the future holds.