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Your Guide to NCAA Volleyball Recruiting
03/11/2025•9 minute read
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Earning a spot on a college volleyball team isn’t just about athletic talent—it takes preparation, strategy, and a strong recruiting plan. Coaches look for players who fit their team’s needs, demonstrate strong academics, and know how to market themselves effectively. Understanding key factors like recruiting timelines, scholarships, and how to communicate with coaches can give you a major advantage in the process.
This FAQ guide answers the most common questions about NCAA volleyball recruiting, helping you take the right steps to connect with coaches, showcase your skills, and land opportunities at the collegiate level.
Getting noticed by college volleyball coaches starts with knowing exactly what they’re looking for.
Here’s how to make an impact.
About the Author: Angel, Athletic Strategy Volleyball Specialist
Angel Gaskin is a former Division I volleyball player and professional athlete who now dedicates her expertise to helping young players navigate the NCAA recruiting process. She began her collegiate career at the University of Maryland, where she played indoor volleyball, served as team captain, and earned All-Big Ten Academic Honors. For her senior year, she transferred to the University of Hawaii, where she competed in both indoor and beach volleyball, earned Big West Academic Honors, and was selected for the Collegiate National Team.
After graduating in 2019, Angel pursued a five-year professional volleyball career overseas, competing in top leagues across Greece, Sweden, Switzerland, Cyprus, Las Vegas, and Puerto Rico. She was a six-time MVP, a championship finalist in Sweden, and earned the title of Best Opposite Attacker of the Swedish League for the 2022-2023 season.
Beyond her playing career, Angel has worked in sports management and game promotions, using her firsthand experience to enhance the athlete experience behind the scenes. She is also an experienced volleyball coach, training players of all ages and skill levels—both individually and at the club level—to help them reach their full potential.
As a Crimson Volleyball Strategist, Angel believes that every young athlete who is committed to the process can achieve their goal of playing at the collegiate level. She understands that each recruitment journey is unique and is passionate about guiding student-athletes through every step, helping them find the right opportunities to achieve their athletic dreams.
FAQs:
When should I start the volleyball recruiting process?
“Players are starting the recruiting process earlier these days. It doesn’t hurt to gather film of yourself when you are in 8th grade. Most of the recruiting process truly begins for most players in high school. I personally started my recruiting process freshman year of high school. I recommend diving into the recruiting process during freshman year of college, the longer you are able to be in contact with school and update universities on your progress and interest in their program will only help you. Having 4 years of contacting schools vs 2 years of can make all the difference.”
How do I get noticed by college volleyball coaches?
“There are a few ways to get noticed by college coaches. One way is to contact the coaches yourself by sending them an email expressing your interest in their program and, including some film of yourself and your club tournament schedule so they can come watch you at some tournaments while they are recruiting if they are interested. Another way to have coaches notice you is to sign up and attend the school’s summer volleyball camp. During camp they can see you in person and spend some time coaching you and interacting with you. Nowadays it is common for players to create instagram accounts specifically for their volleyball highlights. Players can then include their instagram account in their emails for coaches to click on and have direct access to their highlights. ”
Should I participate in club volleyball or high school volleyball to get recruited?
“It is strongly suggested to play club volleyball in order to get recruited. High school volleyball is usually less competitive and not as many games. It's easier for colleges to recruit in mass at club tournaments where they can see the most players at one time in a highly competitive environment. ”
How do volleyball scholarships work at the NCAA level?
“It depends on the volleyball program. Some schools have more money than others and it depends how much money they have left for scholarships depending on how many girls on the team that are currently on scholarship. There are full scholarships which cover your whole college career. There are also partial scholarships which can cover anything less than all four years.”
How do I prepare for an official visit?
“The best way to prepare for an official visit is to make a list of questions ahead of the visit so you don’t forget them and that way you can leave with as much knowledge about the school and the program as possible. It is not a bad idea to do some research on the school overall to educate yourself and that might lead to some questions you wouldn’t have thought of without the extra research. ”
How do I determine which division level is the best fit for my skill level and academic goals?
“There’s a couple ways to figure out which level is best for you. One way is to reach out to the programs you are interested in, and the coaches who are interested back means that they can see you can play in that division. Another way to tell is to keep track of the schools that reach out to you, usually colleges have a good gauge of who they believe will succeed at that division. If a player is really unsure they can always reach out to their club director and express their interest in playing at the college level and ask them which division might be the best fit for them. ”
What academic requirements do I need to meet to be recruited for volleyball?
“Academic requirements differ depending on the university. Players can research the academic requirements for each school they are interested in. Players can also email the coaches of universities they are interested in and ask this very question to get specific answers for that program. The academic entry requirements might also be the same as the requirement to stay eligible. ”
Can I get a volleyball scholarship if I specialize in a specific position, such as setter or outside hitter?
“Absolutely! Volleyball scholarships are for every position. How many scholarships programs have for each position varies depending on the university, but every position in volleyball can get offered a scholarship.”
What role does hitting efficiency play in the recruitment process?
“I would say that hitting efficiency stats play less of a role during the recruiting process because the club level is high error and college coaches are not necessarily looking at what players can do right now they are also looking at a player’s potential and what they could be. Hitting efficiency comes more into play at the college level. Now, it is noticeable to colleges who are recruiting to see players have the ability to terminate a ball after making an error, or to get their team to sideout, or to show the ability to score on game point. ”
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Remember, you don't have to navigate this journey alone. Crimson provides a comprehensive suite of services, from academic mentoring and test prep to essay assistance, extracurricular guidance, and career mentoring, ensuring a holistic approach to your college preparation journey.
