Ava Belluomini’s volleyball career was never something that she planned on – giving it a try wasn’t even her own idea, and yet, it somehow became a staple all throughout her high school and college life.
“My friend made me try out for the grade school team in 5th grade. I was the only one who made it,” Belluomini said. “So ever since then, I just started playing and then I enjoyed it!”
Belluomini’s long career has had many bumps in the road. She attended Resurrection College Prep High School in Chicago and competed at the junior varsity level her freshman year, then decided to stay on the JV team her sophomore year in order to get more playing time and perfect her craft.
In 2020, Belluomini’s career came to a halt, as did many athletes at this time. COVID-19 took her junior year season away. Unfortunately, almost as soon as in-person schooling was back in session, Belluomini sprained her ankle at her senior year volleyball tryouts.
“I felt devastated and defeated. I was so sad I couldn’t play my senior year of high school,” she explained. “I didn’t know how I would bounce back: my ankle was pretty weak for the next 11 months. But my passion for the sport and drive to keep playing was what kept me going, and I didn’t want to give up my sport just because of a setback.”
Once she healed, she continued her club season on Sky High Libertyville regional team where she met coach Bob Vilsoet. Once her regular season was over, Vilsoet was happy to have her in his spring club season. She played for him, then was invited to play NJCAA D3 volleyball at Harper.
“When I first started at Harper, I was excited for a new start. I could tell I was going to like the environment and the girls,” Belluomini said.
She made a strong impact on the team in her freshman year, playing in 36 out of 41 matches. Her stats reflected her ferocity, racking up 232 kills and 257 digs.
During the off-season, Belluomini’s spirit was uninterrupted as she worked harder to progress.
“I was in the gym doing strength training and doing plyometrics and agility work. It definitely helped,” she said.
It didn’t only help her to become a better athlete – it also stoked her motivation toward making the most out of her upcoming sophomore season. Belluomini said she was particularly happy about getting an opportunity to “uplift the freshman” on her team, as in her own experience, sophomores usually “weren’t very supportive” when it came to encouraging newcomers.
Not only was Belluomini a role model for attitude and drive, she was a monster on the court. She competed in 45 out of 45 matches, started in 38 and acquired 276 kills and 308 digs for her 2023 season. She ended 22 in the country for kills, and was selected for the D3 All Region Team by the Nation Junior College Athletic Association.
“I felt shocked that I got it, but also very happy and proud of myself. I didn’t think I would even be considered for it to be honest,” she said.
Although she goes hard on the court, Belluomini puts the ‘student’ in student athlete. She is a second year student at Harper College and she maintains a 3.4 GPA as a full time student. She’s currently studying chemistry and wants to find a career as a forensic chemist or a crime scene investigator.
“I start class around 8 am or 9:30, and I get out around 12 or 12:30. Then after that I go home, eat some lunch, then go to practice. After practice I do all my homework, so I go home from like 6:30 to 9 o’clock at night,” she said.
While juggling all these tasks, she tries to go to the gym as much as she can – she’s often too “beaten up and exhausted” to go as much as she’d like to. To make up for lost time, she goes overtime in the off-season, often training four or five times a week.
Ultimately, Belluomini credits her success to a consistent state of mind.
“I set a goal and then once I have set my mind on something, I don’t stop. I keep working towards it and to accomplish it until I’m happy with it,” she said. “Just have fun. Don’t let it get to your head too much – especially when you’re competing in high school or college and at a more competitive level – because when you get in your head you forget to have fun and when it’s not fun anymore there’s no point in playing.”
