We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Layli Ostovar.

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What does the Texas heat have to do with our featured Player of the Week? It’s a big reason why Layli Ostovar – a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2026 and a sophomore at Mater Dei CA – started playing volleyball. She was 4 and living in Southlake when she first started playing tennis, along with her older sisters Ayva and Kayla, who were 5.

“Playing tennis outdoors in the Texas heat we decided we would rather play an indoor sport and that’s how we fell in love with volleyball,” Ostovar said. “My dad coached and used to play in college.”

A few years later the family moved to San Diego and then to Orange County when Ostovar was 10. That’s the year she started playing club at Tstreet before switching to Mizuno Long Beach at the start of her 13s season. She’s remained there since.

“I just love competing everyday and trying to be the best I can be,” she said. “I like setting goals for myself. Every single day I wake up and I want to play volleyball. It’s something I love.”

Being the youngest child helped develop Ostovar’s competitive drive. She strives to better than her older sisters in anything she does no matter what it is. It’s helped fuel her desire for reaching the next level.

“My big goal is to get on the court at a top Division 1 school,” Ostovar said. “I liked to be challenged a lot and I want to be around girls who like to compete like me and who have made sacrifices in order to make themselves successful.”

As for success, Mater Dei has enjoyed its share so far this fall. As one of the starting outside hitters, Ostovar has had a hand in Mater Dei capturing both the Volleypalooza and Durango Fall Classic tournament titles. The Monarchs entered the week No. 1 in vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings.

“It was the best feeling,” Ostovar said of winning Volleypalooza. “We all really wanted to win that. It was one of our goals. It was such a competitive tournament. Just winning gave us such more confidence moving on.

“Durango was such a hard tournament. We knew we hadn’t won it all in a long time and we wanted to bring that back. Winning it and bringing (the title) back was so great.”

It was at Volleypalooza when a rare moment occurred. There was a trio of sisters playing on both teams at the same time as Mater Dei faced Prestonwood Christian TX in the final. Ostovar was on the court with her older sisters, while the Livings sisters – Jadyn, Nyla and Naomi – were on the other side of the net for Prestonwood.

“I had no idea until after the game when someone told me that,” Ostovar said. “It was actually cool and funny too. Playing with my sisters is a really special experience and we are making so many memories we’ll be able to look back on. But I didn’t know we were playing against three other sisters. That was a really cool experience.”

In addition to playing high school and club, Ostovar also plays beach volleyball. She feels playing on the sand helps grow her indoor skills. Playing indoor in college is her priority but she’s open to playing both. She also can envision herself continuing to play on the beach after she’s finished with college and her studies.

“I want to study sports physical therapy,” said Ostovar, who also likes to bake cakes in her spare time. “I enjoy being around athletes and want to be around them for as long as possible and helping them to do their best.”

As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Ostovar about volleyball and more.

Who is a role model or someone you look up to?

Ostovar: I look up to undersized pins who have been really successful. Yossiana Pressley is one. London Wijay is another. I look up to them because I like how they are really well-rounded players.

Would you rather explore space or the ocean and why?

Ostovar: I would probably rather explore space. The ocean is kind of scary to me. I’m a little scared of the ocean. In space, you would be looking at different planets and stars and it would be such a cool image and memory to have.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why?

Ostovar: I’m thinking it would be to go on a shopping spree to Sephora, then dress up and go out to dinner with my friends. Then after, go to a Bruno Mars concert.

Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why?

Ostovar: I really want to learn how to sing well. I love listening to music and singing along makes me happy and puts me in a really good mood, so I would love to learn that.

Would you rather have the power to instantly master any new sport you try or have the ability to instantly recover from any sports-related injury and why?

Ostovar: I would want to recover from any sports injury that happens. As an athlete it’s hard to come back from injuries and just getting back to jumping or being smart where to place the ball it takes a while to get back to the level you were at, so I’d rather be able to do that.

Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without?

Ostovar: One thing I can’t go a day without is probably touching a volleyball. Sometimes I even go on vacation with a volleyball. I love playing it so much and also seeing and talking to my friends.

What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile?

Ostovar: Again, it would be seeing my friends. Another is coming home to my mom and talking to her and seeing her after a long day. She’s the best.

What’s your favorite way to have fun?

Ostovar: It’s either playing volleyball or going to the mall with my friends or watching a movie with them. Those are probably the main things.

Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why?

Ostovar: I’m really passionate about being there for people when they need me. I like putting a smile on their faces. Caring for them also puts a smile on my face and makes me happy.

What is one thing that may surprise people about you?

Ostovar: So even though I’m competitive and like to compete, I’m really thoughtful, caring and sensitive. I try my best to make sure the people close to me feel really loved.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

Ostovar: I probably would want to live in Hawaii on the beach and just have a really big house on the water. I want to live there. I love the beach. That’s one place I really like to go.

Would you rather be stuck on a broken ski lift or in a broken elevator and why?

Ostovar: I would rather be stuck on a broken ski lift. An elevator is a closed space and I would be claustrophobic. At least on a ski lift people would be able to see you and know that you are stuck.

What’s your favorite number and why?

Ostovar: My favorite number is 3 because number 3 was my grandma’s favorite number. Number 3 was also my trainer’s jersey number in college and he’s someone I look up to. He believes in me and always wants the best for me.