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“Are you that girl on TikTok?”
“My daughter told me to look for the ‘lady in the red hat’!”
“Are you the ‘lady in the red hat’?”
“Do you have that account on TikTok?”
After 15 years of developing a successful brand, none of these identifiers ever get old. I am always humbled and awed by the continual following and recognition I receive while at tournaments and traveling. For those of you who don’t know me very well, I would like to share a little secret…. although on camera I am a complete extrovert, I am secretly an introvert around those I don’t know well and in new environments. As my brand has continued to grow, I have worked extremely hard to keep my anxiety at bay. I feel incredibly grateful, humbled, and honored when athletes want to take pictures and/or chat with me.
Thirteen years ago, I started a college recruiting service. My company specializes in elite volleyball recruiting services housed out of Southern California. As a former player myself, my passion has always been to educate and support families with the college recruiting process. Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of performing recruiting webinars, speaking about recruiting throughout the U.S. and Canada, hosting recruiting showcases, and much more. I am grateful to say that my clients become family. I have gained valuable friendships that have lasted since the start of my company. I have been blessed to watch some of my former volleyball clients grow into successful women. Some of whom have gotten married and started families of their own.
I am proud to say that I have built an incredible team around me. A team who is just as passionate about helping our clients every step of the way, through their recruiting journey. My personalized approach to the recruiting process includes step by step guidance and support which spans from video editing, preparing for phone calls, guidance with email communication, preparation for college visits, completing questionnaires, guiding families with how to find the perfect college fit, and more. Let’s just say, we do it all! I even designed a specific software for my clients. My team and I travel all over the country, getting into gyms and making our way throughout the courts advocating for our girls!
I am a self-made, self-taught businesswoman who has taken a lot of pride in building this business from scratch. Expanding into media, with the development of vballrecruiter.com seemed only natural. I wanted to create exposure for players on a grander scale by utilizing my experience, skill set, and knowledge of the collegiate volleyball recruiting process. I’ve accumulated over a million followers across multiple platforms by creating captivating content. Bringing my volleyball community together with a platform like vballrecruiter.com is just what our girls need to keep them ahead of the game and allowing for more branding and exposure opportunities.
I surround myself with a team of strong women because I am a fierce “go getter”. It is important to me that I have a group of women supporting young female athletes to be the best they can be! In January of 2023, I announced my newest venture The Red Hat Games. This elite three-day event celebrates, honors, educates, and empowers the country’s best volleyball players. This new venture is a testament to my continued dedication to volleyball excellence. I’ve worked so hard for every opportunity in my professional career and personal life. Nothing…and I mean nothing has been handed to me. I am a fighter, and I am grateful for the journey that has led me to where I am today. I have not had the easiest of transitions from the role of volleyball player to volleyball recruiter.
In 8th grade, I walked away from the dance world to play club volleyball. I played at Ichiban Volleyball Club in Southern California. I grew to love the sport and quite frankly it became my lifeline. My freshman year in High School I was abused by my physical therapist, who just so happened to be my teammates father. For many years, following the abuse, I struggled. Volleyball was something that kept me alive in my darkest days. I worked hard at the sport, even after the abuse. I was recruited to play at multiple Division 1 schools. I also accepted and signed my NLI to Long Island University in Brooklyn N.Y. I had wanted to be far away from anyone who knew what had happened to me. I wanted a fresh start. As the departure date approached, I knew I was not in the right mental and emotional place to commit to a team, let alone at a Division 1 level. I was still working through the legal components of the abuse. It is for these reasons, that I decided not to go through with leaving for New York. It took me a long time to heal. I had my oldest child at 19, Derek, who was my saving grace. Derek made me realize that it was time for me to stop being a victim and start being a SURVIVOR. Since then I have had two more blessings, Devlin (15) and Kiki (10), who continue to remind me of the warrior I truly am.
I am strong enough to acknowledge that I would not be the fierce, bold, authentic, driven businesswoman I am today if it weren’t for those darker days. My love for the game of volleyball still runs deep in my soul. Although I never had a chance to follow out my collegiate volleyball career, I am beyond honored and blessed to be a footprint in hundreds of young women’s collegiate volleyball journeys.
I have moments where I lay awake looking back to 15 years ago when I had a vision to develop this business. Today, with thousands of college commitments, I’m filled with humility, smile, and a little laughter when I reminisce on this wild ride. I am grateful for the continual support and love of my family as I continue to blaze through this industry, never forgetting where it all started.
From the bottom of my heart, a sincerest THANK YOU for reading! If you got to this point, I am humbled you were captivated enough to have learned more about me and my story. I am grateful for your time.
Chris Tobolski has been involved with prep/HS sports since graduating Cal State Fullerton with a journalism degree in 2004. He spent nearly six years at The Orange County Register where he first began covering volleyball. After leaving the Register, Chris started covering volleyball exclusively beginning in Southern California running Daily Prep Talk for almost five years. From there, Chris joined and spent four years covering the girls high school and club scene for PrepVolleyball. He now brings his extensive background and years of experience to vballrecruiter.com.
With over two decades of college coaching expertise, Sam Wolinski brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. From leading successful programs at Rhodes College and Eastern Illinois University to serving as a recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State, Sam’s passion for the game and dedication to player development is unmatched. Her deep involvement in the volleyball community, including roles with the AVCA and USAV, further solidifies her expertise. Sam’s ready to guide your recruiting journey to success!
Jen’s bringing the heat to Vballrecruiter! This college recruiting trailblazer founded the first female-owned sports placement company, helping 800+ athletes secure $12M+ in scholarships. State champ volleyball player, UCSB grad, and travel enthusiast based in Southern California. When she’s not changing lives, you’ll find her exploring with her pup! Let’s get you to the top!
Jenna Banz, a Toronto native, traded the Canadian cold for the sun-soaked courts of collegiate beach volleyball. Initially committing to the University of Hawai’i, she honed her defensive skills under coach Jeff Hall. After two successful years, Jenna transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), further developing her game under the tutelage of Chris Sweat. In May 2022, armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from FGCU, Jenna embarked on a new chapter in California, joining Vballrecruiter as an assistant recruiting coordinator.
Derek graduated high school in 2018 and attended GCU, but soon realized that college wasn’t the right path for him. He pivoted into content creation, working alongside Kara and the Vballrecruiter Team to bring creative visions to life. As the designated hype man at events, Derek thrives on energizing the crowd and creating unforgettable experiences. He manages player interviews, and captures awesome content at events all over the country. In his free time, he enjoys diving into the latest video games.