Joseph Crowder '20 Recruiting Profile

“A great player to coach - would love an entire team of you.”  -- Ken Shibuya, Coach Stanford Cardinals

Check out additional videos on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1xO12whZpvVlh__OAinzA

My dream is to play volleyball at the collegiate level at a university or college that has an academic standing that matches their men’s volleyball reputation. I recognize the true importance of going to college is the education. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, having taken honors level courses in subjects where it was offered. In my freshman year I was one of two students selected to receive outstanding honors awards from my high school in geometry and sports medicine.

I work hard to excel academically, but volleyball is my passion. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of boys’ volleyball in the Washington D.C. area. In the Northern Virginia area boys volleyball is not a high school sport, and before this year there was only one club who fielded teams in my age bracket. As a result, I’ve had to create opportunities beyond the club experience, like fall, spring and summer rec leagues (adult and youth), playing coed, grass and sand tournaments for juniors and adults, open gym, and summer athletic camps.

On every formal team I’ve played on, I have been a starter.  I work hard to be a leader on and off the court.  I was chosen to be captain on my club team the last two seasons and take that position very seriously.  My teammates and coaches know when I walk off the court I’ve done my best, win or lose.

One of the most important things I have learned from my experiences is that the cohesiveness of the team can make or break it. The success of the team is directly affected by the team’s attitude towards each other and the opponent. I work hard to maintain and project a steady, positive attitude at all times on the court, and while in the game am always focused on helping to keep my teammates motivated and focused.

I have played as setter for the last three years. In my third club season, my primary position on my team was setter and right side, running a 6-2. Three months into the season I was moved to outside because of my consistently high hitting efficiency and ability to perform as a hitter under pressure. I willingly took the position because I believe that playing different positions helps create a well-rounded player.

Hard work pays off.

My hard work and dedication to playing whenever possible has paid off. Before I was moved to a hitting position, I had the most assists on the team. I ended 2017 regular season with the leading hitting efficiency (having switched part-way through the season), I had the second highest number of kills and total attacks, and lead with the highest hitting percentage. I also led the team in service aces (18%) and had the second lowest service error rates (13%). I loved the opportunity to work on my defensive play, and as a result also led the team in digs.

I was selected to attend the indoor A3 high performance camp both years I tried out. My club team has also earned the chance to play in the boy’s USAV junior national open division for the second time. Even though we may not be high-ranking, just being able to play against teams of such high caliber from all over the country is a reward in and of itself. I have also attended camps at Penn State, Regional High Performance, and Pepperdine University.

To increase touches and all-around gameplay I have recently started playing beach. I attended a USAV high-performance beach development clinic. I won a bid to the open division and played in the 2017 USAV Junior Beach Nationals.

I make up for my smaller stature relative to other players with my passion and commitment to the sport, high volleyball IQ,  coachability,  leadership, and versatility in whatever position I am needed to play.