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: Evie Pool.

***

When it comes to volleyball, the family ties run deep for Evie Pool. With her parents having played and an older brother she watched compete as she was growing up, it all led to her wanting to play too. She started on a local recreation team in third grade and eventually moved to club volleyball for her 12s season.

“I started playing on the right side just for that 12s year and the next year I switched to playing middle,” Pool said. “I feel like in the middle you can impact the game in different ways even though you don’t play in the back row. You get the opportunity to swing, plus blocking and serving so you can be a fundamental part of your team.”

Currently a freshman at Woodcrest Christian and part of Forza1 15 One, Pool stands 6-2 and is a 4-star recruit from the Class of 2027. She carries a GPA well north of 4.0 and spends her free time painting.

“I am really artistic,” she said. “I love painting with my mom. She’s taught me a lot. Painting helps me relax. I can’t even remember when I started. I feel like since I was old enough to hold a paint brush.”

Even though Pool shared she didn’t see much court time her first club season, she was still enamored by the sport for other reasons. She was excited to be part of the team and meeting new friends and developing those relationships. Eventually, her skill level began to increase.

“I think the summer after my 12s year really getting into the gym a lot with my dad,” Pool said. “We did one-on-one lessons and were putting in a lot of work. That was a drastic jump for me.”

This past fall, Pool played on the outside for her high school team. Though she said she still prefers to play in the middle, she did enjoy being part of the outside duo with her current club teammate and another freshman Lauren Green.

“That was a big, fun part of high school for me,” Pool said.

As for club, Forza is gearing up in hopes of earning another USAV Open bid this spring. The group qualified for Open last summer, finishing tied for 11th. Coming off a 41st-place showing in Triple Crown in February, Pool and company are hoping their recent showing during SCVA regional play has the team on the right trajectory.

Forza1 upset the region’s top-ranked club in Tstreet 15 Asics earlier this month. Tstreet is currently ranked No. 8 in Vballrecruiter’s 15s Top 50 National Rankings for March. Forza1 currently sits at No. 34. Both clubs are heading to Las Vegas this coming weekend for the SCVA Red Rock Rave.

““I feel like our last tournament we did really well,” Pool said. “We took second in SCVA after beating Tstreet. We have been trying to beat them for two years now. That was a big step for us. It showed how much potential we have. We had such high energy and everyone was playing really well. It showed how well we are capable of playing. It made us excited for the rest of the year.”

Pool made it clear her development in volleyball and beating a team like Tstreet wouldn’t come without those around her.

“I wanted to say how much my team has impacted me and I wouldn’t be anywhere I am without them,” she said. “They make me so much better. Volleyball wouldn’t be the same without them. Also, the coaches have had a real impact too.”

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

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

Pool: I really look up to Andi Jackson, who plays middle blocker for Nebraska. She is such a strong presence on the court and plays at such a high level. Even though she’s a freshman, she had a leadership role and impacts the game a lot and I look up to her for that.

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

Pool: I think I would want to spend the day in Greece. It seems so beautiful and I like to travel a lot.

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

Pool: I would like to learn how to sculpt and create pottery. Stuff like that would be fun and relax me and it would be a cool skill to learn.

Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what?

Pool: I don’t really have any superstitions, but my team in the huddle on the court right before every match one of our setters taps each person’s foot in the circle. It’s a thing we do every single match. It’s our ritual to lead us into the game.

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

Pool: My family and friends because they bring a lot of joy to my life. They make each task throughout the day more enjoyable having people like that by your side.

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

Pool: I love when I get to go to Forza with my dad and he takes me on the court and we just play on the court for like an hour. That always makes my day better.

What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun?

Pool: I love just playing with my teammates. I also love going to the beach and just hanging out with my friends.

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

Pool: I’m definitely most passionate about art. My mom is really passionate about it and that helped set the example for me. I really love it and it helps calm and relax me.

What is one thing that may surprise people about you?

Pool: My whole family plays volleyball, including my grandma. She plays chair volleyball.

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

Pool: I think I would want to live right on the beach. It’s so beautiful and calm. It’s quiet and beautiful and seems like a really nice place to live.

What’s your favorite food or foods?

Pool: My favorite food is probably spaghetti with garlic bread. I also love mashed potatoes with cheese.

What’s your favorite number and why?

Pool: My favorite number is 12. That is my jersey number. I picked that number because that is my older brother Micah’s number. I look up to him. I love watching him play. He is a role model for me, so it’s why I picked number 12.