COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL RECRUITING

Volleyball Scholarships. Your College Pathway.

Want to play college volleyball? Learn how volleyball recruiting works, understand your scholarship opportunities and take a proactive approach to getting in front of college coaches.
VOLLEYBALL RECRUITING GUIDE

Get recruited. Find the right fit. Keep playing.

There are hundreds of college volleyball programs across the United States. The challenge is knowing which programs fit your level, goals and academic needs, and how to get their coaches' attention.

NCAA • NAIA • NJCAA
3,000+ College Programs
50,000+ College Coaches
$300M+ Scholarships Raised
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

More opportunities exist than most athletes realize.

College volleyball offers opportunities across NCAA, NAIA and junior college programs. Whether your goal is to compete at the highest level or find the college environment that fits you best, there are multiple pathways to continue playing volleyball while earning your degree.

The key is understanding the recruiting process, identifying programs that fit your ability and getting your profile in front of coaches early.

Volleyball recruiting is not simply about waiting for a coach to discover you. The athletes who take control of the process can create more opportunities.

HOW TO GET RECRUITED FOR VOLLEYBALL

Talent matters. So does your recruitment strategy.

College volleyball coaches are evaluating athletes across thousands of recruiting profiles, tournaments, showcases and communications. Make it easy for coaches to understand who you are and what you can bring to their program.

01 / PROFILE

Build Your Recruiting Profile

Include your position, height, graduation year, academics, statistics, video and relevant achievements.

02 / VIDEO

Create A Strong Highlight Video

Show position-specific skills and real game situations that allow coaches to evaluate your ability.

03 / TARGET

Find The Right Programs

Build a list based on your athletic level, academics, location, roster needs and personal goals.

04 / CONNECT

Contact College Coaches

Send personalized communication and follow up consistently with programs that are a genuine fit.

VOLLEYBALL SCHOLARSHIPS

How volleyball scholarships work.

Volleyball scholarship opportunities vary by division, school and program. Athletic aid is only one part of the financial picture, and athletes may also qualify for academic scholarships, grants and other financial aid.

NCAA DIVISION I

Full & Partial Aid

Division I scholarship rules changed following the House settlement. Participating programs now operate under roster limits rather than the former sport-specific scholarship limits, with schools able to provide full or partial athletics aid within the applicable framework.

NCAA DIVISION II

Equivalency Scholarships

Division II uses a partial-scholarship model, allowing coaches to distribute athletics aid among multiple student-athletes.

NCAA DIVISION III

Academic & Need-Based Aid

Division III schools do not award athletic scholarships, but athletes may qualify for academic scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid.

NAIA

Athletic Aid

NAIA programs can provide athletic scholarships, with opportunities varying by school, program and roster needs.

NJCAA

Junior College Pathways

Junior college volleyball can provide athletes with another pathway to compete, develop and continue toward a four-year college opportunity.

Important: Volleyball scholarship rules can vary by division, institution and current NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA regulations. Always confirm the details of an individual scholarship offer directly with the school and its financial aid office.
WHAT COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL COACHES LOOK FOR

More than just stats.

Coaches evaluate the complete athlete. Your technical ability matters, but so do your physical tools, volleyball IQ, consistency, work ethic, academics and ability to fit the culture of their program.
Position-Specific Skills Setting, hitting, serving, blocking, passing or defensive ability depending on your position.
Athletic Ability Vertical jump, explosiveness, movement, speed and physical development.
Volleyball IQ Decision-making, anticipation, positioning and understanding of the game.
Consistency Coaches want to see how you perform across complete matches and against quality competition.
Work Ethic Coaches want athletes who are competitive, coachable and committed to improving.
Academic Fit Your ability to succeed academically at the school is an important part of the recruiting process.
ACADEMICS & ELIGIBILITY

Your volleyball career is only part of the equation.

College coaches evaluate academics alongside athletic ability. Strong academic performance can also expand your college options and potentially open additional scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
01
Maintain Your Grades Academic performance can influence both eligibility and the schools available to you.
02
Understand Eligibility Learn the academic requirements that apply to your intended division and pathway.
03
Register When Required Student-athletes should understand the relevant eligibility and registration process early, including any additional requirements that may apply to international athletes.
04
Keep Your Options Open Strong academics can help you evaluate more schools and more potential financial aid opportunities.
BUILD YOUR VOLLEYBALL RECRUITING PROFILE

Give coaches what they need to evaluate you.

Your recruiting profile should quickly communicate who you are as an athlete and give coaches the information they need to decide whether they want to learn more.

01 / ATHLETE

Personal Information

Graduation year, location, contact details and relevant athletic information.

02 / MEASURABLES

Athletic Measurements

Height, position, reach, vertical and other relevant position-specific information.

03 / VIDEO

Highlight & Game Film

Show your skills in context and make it easy for coaches to evaluate your game.

04 / ACADEMICS

Academic Information

GPA, academic achievements and other information relevant to your college options.

VOLLEYBALL RECRUITING TIMELINE

Start early. Stay proactive.

There is no reason to wait until your final year of high school to begin understanding college volleyball. Starting earlier gives you more time to develop, build your profile, identify schools and establish relationships with coaches.
FRESHMAN
Build Your Foundation Focus on development, academics and learning how the recruiting process works.
SOPHOMORE
Build Exposure Develop your profile, video and school list while continuing to compete and improve.
JUNIOR
Increase Coach Communication Contact programs, attend relevant events and keep coaches updated on your progress.
SENIOR
Evaluate Your Opportunities Maintain communication, complete applications and evaluate your offers and options.
HOW NEXTUP HELPS

Don't manage your recruitment alone.

NextUpRecruitment combines recruiting technology, coach access and expert guidance to help athletes take a more proactive approach to the college recruiting process.
Recruiting Profile Build a professional profile designed for college coaches.
50,000+ Coaches Access a network of college coaches across the country.
Coach Outreach Send targeted communication to programs that fit you.
Coach Engagement Track engagement with your recruiting communication.
Target Schools Build and manage a focused list of potential programs.
Recruitment Guidance Know what to focus on and what your next step should be.
VOLLEYBALL SCHOLARSHIP FAQ

Common questions about volleyball recruiting.

Understanding the process is the first step toward taking control of your recruitment.

How do I get a volleyball scholarship?

Build a strong recruiting profile, develop your skills, create quality video, identify programs that fit your ability and proactively communicate with college coaches.

Are volleyball scholarships full scholarships?

Scholarship structures vary by division and institution. Division I rules changed following the House settlement, while Division II uses an equivalency model and Division III does not offer athletic scholarships.

Can I get a volleyball scholarship?

Yes. Volleyball athletes can pursue scholarship opportunities at colleges across the United States, provided they meet the applicable academic, athletic and eligibility requirements.

When should I start volleyball recruiting?

Earlier is generally better. Starting during freshman or sophomore year gives you more time to build your profile, improve academically, identify programs and develop relationships with coaches.

What do college volleyball coaches look for?

Coaches evaluate position-specific skills, athletic ability, volleyball IQ, consistency, work ethic, academics and overall fit with their program.

Can I play college volleyball without receiving an athletic scholarship?

Yes. Athletes may compete without athletic scholarship aid, and depending on the school they may qualify for academic scholarships, grants or other forms of financial assistance.

Ready to start your volleyball recruitment?

Build your recruiting profile, connect with college coaches and take a more proactive approach to finding your college volleyball opportunity.

Start Your Recruitment →
Create your profile and get started today.