Meet Avery Herber, #2 2027 Recruit

As the #2 overall recruit and the #1 outside hitter in the State, there is no question Herber has some serious game. Physically, and athletically, Herber could easily pass for a veteran player. Lucky for us, she is only a freshman, so we get three and a half more years of watching Herber dominate before she undoubtedly will move on to play at the collegiate level.   She is becoming a more and more complete six-rotation outside hitter each season she plays. Her improvement over this past year has been incredible to watch. At 6'1”, she takes a momentous approach and with a high contact point is racking up kills all over the place, proving she is an offensive threat from anywhere on the court. While she will take big swings at big moments, she has exceptional court vision and will find creative ways to score as well, making her hard to predict. She is a dynamic athlete and this shines through on the volleyball court. She moves around the court with effortlessness and humble confidence. Shouldering offensive and defensive loads on her previous and current teams, she is continuing to get high-level experience all around. Her back row play only continues to get better; making athletic moves on defense and remaining consistent on serve receive.   Alongside twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='509756' first='Addison' last='Herber'], the pair made for two of the most dominant freshmen in the state for the 2A classification. As Western Christian's primary offensive weapon, she racked up an impressive 489 kills on the season, placing 8th in the state for total number of kills. At this rate, Herber will surpass 2,000 kills by the time she graduates, an impressive and rare feat. Her dominant play for the Pioneers was crucial to their 3rd place finish in the 2A State tournament, so much so that she received the nod of 2A Second Team All-State.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Avery exudes confidence and maintains a consistently level-headed demeanor, showcasing her versatility on the court. While proficient in various aspects of the game, her prowess as an outside player stands out as particularly valuable. Not driven by flashy plays, she prioritizes efficiency, combining highlight-worthy swings with strategic shots and precise placement. Avery's approach is characterized by both skill and pragmatism, making her a formidable player. Beyond her athletic abilities, she fosters a positive rapport with teammates and possesses a deep understanding of the sport, regularly analyzing game footage and staying informed about athletes and collegiate programs. <cite>Dima Ignatovich, NPJ Salem 15-1 National Head Coach </cite></blockquote>   I had the chance to email back and forth with Herber, and she answered some questions for us:   1. Why did you choose to play volleyball? What got you hooked? What do you love about it?   I started playing volleyball for the Boys & Girls Club when I was 8 years old. I have grown up in a gym, always watching my older sisters (Aly & Lexi), following them to whatever tournaments they were participating in all along peppering and hitting with my twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='509756' first='Addison' last='Herber'] while they were playing. I started at NPJ when I was 11 and was hooked immediately, working hard to improve my skills while continuing to play the game that I love. Over that time, I have made some very good friends, while playing the sport that has become an obsession. Playing volleyball, I have gotten to know and develop friendships with girls from all over the state while competing. I love EVERYTHING volleyball-related, finding and watching college practices on YouTube or past matches, watching other club tournaments online and the girls I have had a chance to compete against or just peppering with my sister, there's always something to learn about this game.   2. What has been your favorite memory volleyball has given you thus far?   There are so many great memories and opportunities that this game has already given me. Probably my favorite memory was from the summer of 2023. My sister Addison, my Dad, and I went to Southern California for an Under Armour NEXT camp. It was such an awesome experience to play with new girls from all over the country where the competitiveness was ridiculously good. In addition to meeting new girls from around the country, I did get to experience the camp with a number of my good friends from NPJ which made it even more special. We also mixed in a trip to Disneyland with some friends from our club which made the trip that much more memorable.   3. What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has helped you as an athlete?   One piece of advice that has stood out to me while playing volleyball is from AJ Francis who was my 14s coach. He has always said to "keep it simple". On the court, it is easy to want to make drastic changes when trying to win a rally but when I keep things simple and go back to the fundamentals of volleyball it almost always has a better outcome. Lots of AJ"isms" from the last couple of years but this one has stuck out to me and I will always be able to remember when I am playing.   4. What are your goals for your volleyball career? What are your aspirations for your high school and club career? Do you want to play collegiately?   I absolutely want to play volleyball at the highest level possible. I hope to compete for state titles the next three years during the high school seasons with my sisters. When it comes to club, getting a chance to compete at nationals every year is always at the top of the list. There's nothing better than being able to watch and play against the best competition in the country at the national level. As for college, that seems like forever away but playing at a high level school is a dream of mine. Getting a chance to compete for conference championships and maybe a national title one day would be very cool.