vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Ryan Hunter (FREE)
We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Ryan Hunter. *** To this point, if Ryan Hunter’s volleyball career were a race it would be the 100-meter dash. She’s gone from ending her time in competitive dance and beginning volleyball just three years ago to becoming one of the top Class of 2025 prospects in a flash. The 6-2, 5-star dynamic right side has spent the season playing up and turning heads on nationally-ranked Triangle 17 Black, which is competing in 17 Open this summer at the USAV Junior National Championships in Chicago. Hunter’s addition has elevated Triangle into a national title contender. She made the switch to the club this season. That she’s competing at such a high level in such a short time is a credit to her, plus reason why big-time college programs around the country are hoping to make their impressions when the recruiting season officially opens in a couple of weeks. “It’s been really fun coming into a new club full of very advanced athletes,” Hunter said. “It was new and it was a little challenging to get used to. When I did get used to it, it was really fun. We connected quickly. We’re all competitive and we all work well together.” As Hunter began getting taller she was looking for something new besides dancing, which she’d been doing since she was 2. Her older sister, Keimaya, played volleyball at UNC and that inspired her to give the sport a try. She went to a camp at a local gym and that was it. Three short years later and the next stop up is Junior Nationals, where Triangle will enter 17 Open ranked No. 3 in vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National Rankings. It’ll be Hunter’s first time competing in Open at JN’s. It’s even possible she could have a new college in her future by then, but for now we’ll have to wait and see how both to unfold. “We are preparing ourselves to be dealing with more competition and getting better every single practice,” Hunter said. “We are mentally preparing ourselves for the intense play but I think with this team we have a real chance of pulling off winning nationals.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Hunter about volleyball and more. Who is your role model or icon you look up to? Hunter: My sister was the one to first introduce me to volleyball. Her love for volleyball inspired me to love it. She’s been one of my biggest supporters and has been there to help me. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, she made sure I made it practice, all my tournaments and always took time to help me practice. I’ve seen how hard she works and how focused she is on accomplishing her own goals while helping me achieve mine. She’s my hero and I’m so blessed to have her. What is your favorite food? Hunter: My favorite foods would have to be lasagna, pizza and pasta. What is your favorite tournament of the season? Hunter: I’d have to say maybe either Triple Crown or Sunshine Classic. I think both those tournaments had great competition and those were the times we were really connecting and getting into a groove. It showed how well we can work together and it really made us push ourselves. What is your favorite team bonding event? Hunter: Usually, after the first day of a tournament the team goes out to eat. It’s a fun time. We are always laughing. Those times are really special. It helps us connect off the court. Do you have a favorite quote or mantra? Hunter: I’d say my favorite quote is ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ If you could have any super power what would it be and why? Hunter: If I could have any superpower I’d say to be able to fly. I don’t know, it would be really cool to be above everything in the sky and see it all from the perspective of above. Also, being able to fly I could get places faster. What do you like to do outside of volleyball? Hunter: I like to draw. Sometimes I go on walks when the weather is nice. I think I’m a creative person. I like to make things like crafts. What is one thing that may surprise people about you? Hunter: I’d say if you didn’t know me before you met me you would think I’m a quiet person. Once you get to know me you’d probably be surprise to see how crazy and goofy I am. If you could have dinner with anyone past or present, who would it be and why? Hunter: Kobe Bryant. I would want to ask him everything and anything regarding his methods for maintaining focus and how he came to have a Mamba mentality. What’s your favorite number and why? Hunter: My favorite number is 18. It’s a combination of my sister’s number and my brother’s number. His number in high school was 33 and my sister’s number in college was 15. 33 minus 15 is 18.
