Continuing a family tradition, Avery Barrett started playing volleyball nine years ago. Today, Barrett is a senior and captain, and she has committed to play at the college level next year.
“My mom played at Baldwin in high school in the ’90s and my aunt played in college, so I was always interested in playing,” Barrett said. “I started in fifth grade – all my friends were playing, so I wanted to do it too.”
Her mom has supported her throughout her years of playing.
“My mom helped so much with (college) recruitment before I committed, and being able to make all my practices or getting me lessons,” Barrett said.
Fellow senior Kaylee Smolko said Barrett has not only the experience, but the leadership that makes the team work.
“Avery is really supportive. She’s always there for people on the team,” Smolko said. “I feel like because she has four years of varsity experience, she is definitely one of the best leaders on the team.”
Her knowledge of the game helps her achieve all she has in volleyball.
“She knows a lot about the game of volleyball and she has a high IQ for volleyball, so she knows what is going on around the court and directs all of us,” Smolko said.
Barrett is committed to continue playing volleyball at the collegiate level at Pitt-Johnstown. She decided earlier than most athletes do, committing at the end of her junior year.
“I wanted to be committed before senior year, so I feel extremely blessed that I was able to have that opportunity to play in college and commit early,” she said.
She said the atmosphere, the players and the coaches at Pitt-Johnstown made her feel comfortable and welcome, which helped her decide to go there.
Junior Abbie Mohring said Barrett will be successful in college because of her ability and her personality.
“I think she is going to thrive in college. I think she is going to make friends on the team because she is just so outgoing and nice,” Mohring said.
Smolko agreed, citing Barrett’s leadership skills from playing at Baldwin.
“She is going to do great,” Smolko said. “She is going to Pitt-Johnstown and I think she is going to be a leader on that team as well.”
According to Barrett, her Baldwin senior season has been going well.
“It has been going so much better since the last two seasons,” Barrett said. “The new coaching staff has been really great and just super supportive in anything we do, and I think that has a lot to do with our success.”
The team is currently 1-7 in section and 3-10 overall. Their section is competitive, and they are not expected to make it to playoffs.
“Our record is better than from my sophomore and junior year. I think we are all just growing as players, especially because we have a young team,” Barrett said. She also feels that the team will be successful in the upcoming years.
She said that one goal she wants to achieve this season is being named to the first team Big 56 all-conference. She has never earned this recognition and feels that she could this year, due to the team’s successes.
Barrett hopes for her senior year to end successfully and for that to lead into her club season where she plays for Pittsburgh Elite, and then onto a new chapter in college.
