Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Ava Stiller

Junior Ava Stiller gained plenty of experience last season as a member of the girl’s volleyball program, which set a record for team wins and was able to capture a regional championship. This season, Ava was appointed captain by her teammates, an honor befitting someone who has worked tirelessly her entire career to become a vital member of the team and program. Ava’s determination to succeed, coupled with her strong work ethic, is why she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Volleyball did not become a fixture in Ava’s life until 7th grade, and admittingly, she did not start out as a top player “I stopped competing in dance and saw some friends and others playing volleyball, so I wanted to try out,” says Ava. She adds, “I was not really good at first and did not really know what I was doing.”

While the pandemic brought about changes for everyone, Ava used the time stuck inside to better herself. “I bought a volleyball net for the backyard, and we would spend sessions out there hitting and just hanging out,” says Luke. He goes on to say, “I would set her ball after ball, and she would get tons of reps. She hit one hard enough that it ended up denting our rain gutter pretty badly.”

The time spent in the backyard practicing with her father motivated Ava to be the best version of herself on the court. “When I came back to my club team, I noticed I had improved a lot, and I started enjoying the game more because I understood the game better and was excited to be improving.”

The best example of Ava’s growth as a player is her ascension through her club team. When she first started, she was placed on the bottom team of Club 1. Her hard work saw her move up to the 3rd team in 8th grade, the second team her freshman year, and last year she was elevated to the top team for her club.

Ava credits her most significant growth as a volleyball player to becoming a member of the OE team her freshman year. “There was a lot of conditioning and hard work that taught me discipline,” says Ava. Head coach Dina Beamon has had a front-row seat to Ava’s growth, saying, “I watched this spunky freshman grow into a hardworking sophomore and is now an amazing junior who wants to do what she loves and support her team as best she can."

Ava’s grit and determination to become the best version of herself inspire her teammates and help with her personal success. “I believe Ava’s best characteristic as an athlete is being coachable,” says Luke. He adds, “She wants to be better, and she is consistently willing to take feedback and implement change.” Being coachable and self-motivated has set Ava up for success. As Dina says, “Ava is one of the most determined players you will ever meet and works hard no matter what, striving to always be a leader.”

Not only is Ava self-motivated on the court, but her highest priority is academics and being a student, as evidenced by her 4.3 GPA. “I’m very focused on my academics and specifically psychology,” says Ava. While she is hopeful she will have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, Ava has her sights set on eventually becoming a psychiatrist.

Tyler Van, Ava’s AP Government teacher, understands what makes Ava special and sees a bright future ahead, saying, “Ava is a fantastic student who is always eager to learn more.” He goes on to say, “She pushes herself every day to be a better student and has the ability to talk with anyone about any subject. Ava is easy to talk to and genuinely listens to others during conversations, a personality trait will make her an excellent psychiatrist.”

As a captain, Ava is focused on being the best version of herself this season, saying, “I want to be there for my teammates and help them feel supported, as well as continuing to improve and work together to find the best team dynamic that works.” As a high-achieving student-athlete, Ava advises future Wolves by saying, “Find a group of people that you are supported by and feel comfortable with, whom you feel you can go to about anything, and stick with them.” The volleyball team’s success will depend on their ability to stick together and support one another, and Ava will no doubt play a big role in helping to build that cohesion.