Every time I step on the court, I’m managing more than the net—I’m managing the highs and lows of being a Type 1 Diabetic. I refuse to let it limit me from dominating on the court or in the classroom as you will find out below.

My name is Rilynn Merritt, Class of 2029 from the International Baccalaureate program at Bartow High School in Florida. I am reaching out to introduce myself as a versatile player interested in your volleyball program playing in positions Middle Blocker, Right Side Hitter, and Outside Hitter.

I compete at the club level for the number one 15U Elite team at Florida Elite Volleyball Academy in Tampa, FL for Coach Katia Saavedra. I have also solidified a spot on their 16U Elite team for next season. At the Northern Lights Qualifier in March, we earned a bid to the 2026 USAV Nationals tournament in Indianapolis in the USA division.

As a freshman, I earned a position on the Varsity volleyball team at Bartow High School. In my first high school season, I helped lead my team as a starting Middle Blocker to the 6A Florida Regional Finals—the program’s first appearance at that level in 20 years. I also played for my high school’s Varsity Beach Volleyball team where my pair led in the most wins for the season.

I will finish my freshmen year with a 4.4 GPA taking high-achieving courses like AP Environmental Science, Pre IB Biology, and Pre IB German to name a few. Currently, I plan to study in the field of medicine, possibly to be an anesthesiologist or pursue a degree in Business Administration.

I would appreciate the opportunity to be considered for your program. Please find attached a few highlight reels over the past year. I would be happy to share any additional information that would be helpful for you to get to know me better.