Prospect Spotlight: Kamryn Pullen (2018)

On the volleyball court, Kamryn Pullen can do things few others can. The same can be said for the 6’2 senior from Omaha North in the classroom.

Pullen, ranked the #8 prospect in the Class of 2018, jump touches 10’0 1/2 – putting her just over a basketball rim and well above a vast majority of players in the state. It’s that kind of athleticism combined with her height, length and high ceiling that makes her the kind of player college coaches salivate over. 

Off the court, Pullen is a National Merit Semifinalist that pulls down a weighted GPA of 4.875. It’s that kind of intelligence that has many colleges salivating over her as well.

Somebody is going to pay for Pullen’s college whether it’s for her ability in the classroom, on the court or a combination of both. It’s a good problem to figure out if you’re Pullen. She said her top priority is to find the right fit academically and then see if there is an opportunity for her to play volleyball there.

“College volleyball isn’t completely out of the question for me, but I can’t say it’s a top priority,” Pullen said. “I have communicated with my club coach and sent footage to colleges I plan to apply for.”

Pullen said Iowa State and North Carolina A&T expressed some interest in her during the club season, mostly as a walk-on. Right now, though, Pullen said she isn’t communicating with any college programs because she is focused on figuring out where her best fit academically is.

She said she really likes the idea of attending a small school in a large city and that most of the schools she is looking strongly at are NCAA Division III, which does not allow athletic scholarships. She hasn’t decided what she wants to major in at college but said it will definitely be in the area of math and computer science. 

This summer, Pullen played on the Nebraska Elite 171 squad which had seven players on the team that are Division I commits. It’s difficult to go from that level of competition to playing at Omaha North, but Pullen said she looks at it as another challenge.

“I expect us to seriously compete with all of the teams we play. I want us to always play for each other and play to the best of our abilities,” she said. “I want to have a purpose for every ball I touch. I hope to constantly improve and get better, specifically with my ball control and blocking.

“At Elite I gained stronger ideas about the importance of the team as a whole and not just the individual. They also helped me play at a faster pace and helped me a great deal in improving my block. The biggest struggle would have to be reigning in any frustrations I have. It’s hard playing with a team full of D1 volleyball players and then going back to North where that isn’t the case. I do my best to be the best leader I can be and support my teammates and their efforts. I’ve learned it’s a lot more fun focusing on the positives.”