A Thorold student-athlete is seeing her dream to play volleyball in the U.S become reality.
Come this fall, 17-year-old Ava Venneri will make her home in Lakewood, New Jersey, as her studies begin at Georgian Court University after she was awarded a four-year NCAA-scholarship to play volleyball with the university's varsity team.
"It was a long recruiting process, but I finally found the perfect school for me, that offered me a great academic program and a great athletic program," said Venneri, a senior at Sir Winston Secondary, to Thoroldnews.com.
The success is the result of roughly nine years of grinding on the volleyball field, with countless local tournaments and competitions behind her - all while corresponding with coaches and schools to find the right fit.
"I have always dreamed about playing volleyball in the U.S. There are so many big tournaments and opportunities," she continued.
But just showing up to practice isn't enough for someone who wants to make it big on the court.
Towering 5'8, Venneris height puts her out of the average and often desired measurement for a volleyball player, but she used it to her advantage instead.
"Ever since I started playing I was always shorter. It caused me to work harder, not only on the court but also outside with strength and conditioning, training my legs so I'd be able to jump as high as those who are taller. I just kind of work harder to be at their level skill-wise."
Practicing Monday, Friday, Saturday, with weight training Tuesdays and Thursdays to increase her leg strength, the pandemic was another curveball thrown her way as gyms closed down.
For long periods of time, at-home workouts became the way for Venneri to keep her performance up, and her focus set.
"Mentally, it was hard, because I always am going and have something to do. But when everything was closed I had to push myself to keep going even though there were no set times to show up to practice."
"I had to push myself. It was mostly mentally for me, to keep telling myself that everything I do, I do to get better. This year made me work harder than I ever had, and it was a blessing for me."
Describing the offer from the team as 'mind-blowing', Venneri is also looking ahead to life after she retires from professional volleyball.
She says she wants to teach Elementary school and is shooting for a degree in Psychology as she begins her educational studies at the university.
"It has been a stressful time, both during the pandemic, and also the selection process, so when that came through, I was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could just focus on training."
