My volleyball journey began in my freshman year of high school when I joined the freshman volleyball team. Before then, I had never stepped foot on a court nor watched any volleyball games; it was a completely new sport to me. After the high school season, I joined a local club team for more playing time, but I didn’t learn much from that season. Over the summer before my sophomore year, I realized my passion for volleyball and my desire to play in college, but I also acknowledged that I was behind other girls who had years of experience playing libero. Feeling demotivated, I even considered switching to golf, a sport I also love, but it didn’t excite me as much as volleyball.

Recognizing my passion, my parents helped me find different camps and training opportunities. During that summer, I attended camps at Coast and Wave volleyball clubs in San Diego almost daily for two weeks, dedicating 4-6 hours each day to volleyball. These camps helped me learn the basics and get plenty of practice in setting, hitting, and passing. By my sophomore year, I made it onto the JV team. Although I performed well, I knew I needed to improve to compete with other liberos. So, after the high school season, my parents arranged for a personal trainer whom I see 3–4 times per week. With my trainer, I focus on plyometrics, weight training, speed training, and agility, which has shown significant improvement in my speed, endurance, and power.

On weekends or days without training, I incorporate runs into my routine, aiming to beat my previous times. Running helps me control my breathing and prepares me physically for long games.

Additionally, I have 2-4 private sessions each week with a volleyball trainer who pays attention to detail and helps correct my technique.

Nutrition is also crucial to me, as my parents emphasized its importance in maintaining energy levels on the court. With guidance from sources like Training with Coach Kiy and the Libero Academy, I’ve developed personalized meal plans focusing on protein for muscle strength, carbs for energy, and fruits and veggies for overall health. Proper hydration is also a priority.

I find it helpful to rewatch my games along with other players, analyzing my performance to identify areas for improvement. I’ve watched each game about 20 times, focusing on my technique and reactions to plays. I take both physical and mental notes, aiming to improve by 1% each day.

Moreover, I’m participating in the Zoe Fleck Film Study Masterclass Mentorship to enhance my game awareness, mental preparation, performance analysis, and skill development.

Additionally, I read self-help and leadership books, watch YouTube videos, and listen to podcasts to improve myself mentally. Some of the books I’ve read include “Atomic Habits,” “The Power of Now,” “The Tipping Point,” and “Seven Secrets of Highly Effective Teens.”

Finally, I’ve created an Instagram page to share and document my journey, inspire others, and build a community of individuals passionate about hard work, commitment, and dedication to reaching their goals.

Here is an overview of my weekly activities. It may seem like a lot, but I prioritize listening to my body and taking breaks or rest days as needed:

Agility, Mobility, Strength, and Conditioning Training: 1-hour sessions 3-4 times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Examples:

Agility Training:

t
• Cone Drills (to increase the ability to rapidly change directions)
• 2 Foot and 1 Foot Plyometrics (to develop strength and joint stiffness for handling higher forces seen in games)

Mobility:

t
• Deep Squat/Leg Press (targeting key muscles needed to maximize leg strength and mobility)
• Hip CARS (isolating hip stabilizers to assist in gaining more range of motion, which can improve efficiency and prevent injury)

Conditioning:

t
• Interval Sprints and Bounds (sprinting at full speed to train the body and nervous system at high velocities, with long breaks to allow ATP restoration and optimal recovery, improving overall speed)

Private Volleyball Skills Training: Usually 1-hour lessons 2 times a week, sometimes more based on the availability of coaches and courts, totaling 3-4 times a week on Tuesday & Thursday, and occasionally on Friday and/or Saturday.

Club Practice: 1-hour sessions 3 times a week on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.

Meal Prep: Spending 15-30 minutes daily to prepare 5-7 meals depending on activity, including breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, pre-workout/practice snack, and post-workout/snack.

Mindset: Devoting 2-3 hours a week, or more when time permits, to reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and engaging with positive and motivational social media posts. I often do this during downtime or free time, including reading during travel to and from practices.

Film Review: Conducting one session per month via Zoom with Zoe Fleck, spending 5-6 hours reviewing post-game films, and watching online training courses/videos for 30 minutes every other day.

Online Training Courses: Libero Academy, Volleyball University, SM Nutrition for High School Athletes.