Aanya Kulkarni is a vocal setter who brings a ton of energy to the court. What sets her apart is that she tends to make the right decisions, and one thing to notice when she is on the court is her awareness and her ability to make a bad ball better. When things get tough, she does not shut down, she gets louder, cheering on her team and staying in constant communication with everyone around her. She makes sure to uplift her teammates when they make mistakes, and she holds herself accountable in the same breath. One standout fact about her freshman year: Kulkarni is stepping straight onto a varsity team as an incoming freshman. Her motivation to compete comes from the girls around her, the ones who make her smile and hold her accountable. During a private lesson, she was struggling with her blocking because she felt she was not jumping high enough, and her coach explained that getting into the right spot and penetrating over the net mattered more than getting up high. That adjustment allowed her to block more balls and funnel plays to the correct spots on defense. Her goal for this high school season is to grow as a leader and play higher-level volleyball, and she is looking to help her team win a league title by running a fast, smart offense. Kulkarni came to the Freshman Showcase wanting to display her skills and start building real exposure.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Aanya Kulkarni Aanya Kulkarni 5'8" | S CA named Top Performing Freshman Setter at 7/31/26 SoCal Showcase, Irvine, Ca.

Aanya Kulkarni Aanya Kulkarni 5'8" | S CA consistently delivered a smooth, controlled set with excellent push and location, making it easy for her hitters to stay on tempo.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247