Looking for Colleges with Volleyball Scholarships

I'm considering playing volleyball in college, and I've heard there are scholarships for athletes. How do I find colleges that offer volleyball scholarships, and what criteria do they usually look for? I'm in my junior year and want to start reaching out to coaches or admissions offices. Any advice or stories from those who have gone through the process would be super helpful!

Firstly, kudos to you for taking the initiative to explore athletic scholarships as an avenue to fund your college education. Volleyball scholarships are indeed offered by many universities, especially those that compete in the NCAA Division I and II. To locate colleges that offer volleyball scholarships, you can use the NCAA website for a list of universities by sport and division.

It's important to consider that coaches look beyond your performance on the volleyball court. They're often interested in your academic performance, as well as your teamwork and leadership skills. Many coaches want to ensure you'll be able to balance the commitments of college, athletics, and academics successfully.

Getting recruited for college sports can be a proactive process, and reaching out to coaches can be a good start. Write a short but interesting email introducing yourself, outlining your accomplishments both in academics and volleyball, and expressing your interest in their program. Attaching your Highlight Video could be beneficial. This video should be 5-7 minutes long capturing your best plays, different skills-set, and showcasing your versatility in games.

Consider attending sports camps and showcase events, as these are venues where you can demonstrate your skills and athleticism directly to prospective coaches. Before attending, you could reach out to the coaches of schools you're interested in, let them know you're attending, and invite them to come watch you play.

While going through this process, you should explore the academic offerings of these institutions, as well. Prioritize the scholarship offerings of schools that satisfy your academic interests and goals. Remember, you're a student first and then an athlete. Your academic achievement and personal growth should remain paramount even as you pursue a volleyball scholarship.

Good luck with your search! A lot of players have walked this path and ended up finding their dream colleges. It's a journey that requires patience and resilience, but it can be incredibly rewarding.