COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 6, 2018) – Brooke Nuneviller (Chandler, Arizona) describes herself as “energetic, crazy and fun.” On the court, that may as well translate into being a leader and team player for what she brings to the table.
This weekend she steps on the court representing the University of Oregon when it faces University of Minnesota on Friday in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship regional semifinals. Earlier this week she was named as the AVCA Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year and AVCA Pacific North Region honorable mention.
Nuneviller, who has seven years of experience in the USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline, has transitioned back-and-forth from libero and outside hitter during her time within HP and as an outside with her club Aspire in Arizona. She enjoys playing both positions, but she has settled into being a libero for the good of the team.
“In my very first year of High Performance, I made the (Future Select) A2 camp,” Nuneviller said. “Ever since then, I have been on A1. I have been switching back-and-forth between outside hitter and libero. After a while I decided to stick with playing libero because of the success that I have had. It has been super humbling.”
Nuneviller has already played in a World Championship event, two NORCECA championships and a handful of USA Volleyball High Performance Championships. She says wearing the red, white and blue representing the USA is a feeling like none other. Having USA on her chest is a reminder that she is playing more than for herself.
“My favorite part about wearing a USA jersey is the fact that you’re not only playing for yourself and your teammates,” Nuneviller said. “You’re playing for a greater purpose. You wear those three letters with the utmost amount of pride as you get the opportunity to represent your country.”
In her seven years in the pipeline, Nuneviller has several fond memories, but one sticks out for sure.
“My favorite memories from NORCECA Women’s U20 Championship on the court has to be winning it all,” Nuneviller said. “Two years before that my team was in the same situation in the finals, playing the Dominican Republic, and we placed second. Getting the opportunity for that grudge match was amazing and winning with USA on your back is a such a powerful feeling.”
The 2018 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team that Nuneviller referenced was power-packed with talent with players who still had a year of high school remaining. However, it included Logan Eggleston, who earlier this week was named to the AVCA All-Southwest Region Team as a freshman. Eggleston, who was the most valuable player of the 2018 NORCECA Women’s U20 Continental Championship, skipped her entire senior year of high school to join the University of Texas a year early. Texas meets the University of Michigan in the NCAA regional semifinal on Friday.
Nuneviller’s top memories are also not always tied to the court, but through experiences with her teammates.
“My favorite memory off the court was probably when my room flooded in Mexico (this year at NORCECA),” Nuneviller said. “It was raining really hard that night and rain got into our slightly sloped hall. So, of course, my room being at the end had all of the water. My clothes were soaked, my backpacks, my shoes, everything. But my team helped me clear everything out and it just shows how you never know what’s going to happen so be prepared!”
Nuneviller said her experience in HP helped her be ready for the world of college volleyball.
“College volleyball is a whole new animal, especially competing in the Pac 12,” Nuneviller said. “USA volleyball gave me the opportunity to see some top competition around the world that helped me better prepare for the collegiate level.”
In her first collegiate season, Nuneviller has learned how to juggle a busy schedule and to prioritize matters.
“Honestly, in college volleyball it’s very difficult to have a balance between an athletic, academic and social life,” Nuneviller said in late October. “The first couple weeks after school started I had troubles understanding that. Now, within the last couple weeks, I have managed to balance the three much better. I realized that during season, your main focus is volleyball and academics. Yes, you can have friends and maybe hang out on your off days, but you came to school to play volleyball. I have a lot of friends that I’ve made over the last few months, but like I said a social life is one sacrifice you have to be willing to give up for four months of the year.”
In short order, Nuneviller has raked in several individual honors including two Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. She has racked up 536 digs so far this season, which ranks sixth for a single season at Oregon. Nuneviller ranks third in the Pac-12 with 4.83 digs per set, the seventh most in the nation among freshmen. She has recorded double-digit digs in 24 straight matches and has 10 matches with 20 or more digs. And yet, she is humbled by the recognition.
“Receiving the accolades that I have has been so humbling,” Nuneviller said. “If I was not on such an incredible team, I wouldn’t get half the recognition. These teammates bring the best out in me and they make me want to fight even harder for them. Even though it’s honoring to receive recognition, I want to get better every day and do everything I can to help my team.”
Nuneviller offers some sound advice for high school athletes who are about to embark on their own collegiate careers in the next year.
“To any seniors out there who can’t wait to get to college, be prepared for a commitment,” Nuneviller said. “As of right now I’m already half way through my freshman season which is insane. Time really does fly, so give your teammates and coaches everything you got, because trust me it will be worth it in the end. Don’t have any regrets.”
Nuneviller was not only a star indoor volleyball player in high school, but also dominated in beach volleyball. She went undefeated without losing a set in 2018 with Corona del Sol High School, and dropped just one match in two years. This spring you may find her on the sand playing for Oregon.
“I’m very passionate about both indoor and beach volleyball,” Nuneviller said. “I have always wanted to pursue beach volleyball further and with the collegiate level constantly growing, I have more and more chances.”
Looking forward, Nuneviller has dreamed of playing in the Olympics for as long as she can remember.
“I’ve had the dream since I was a kid of competing in the Olympics,” Nuneviller said. “Having the opportunity to play for the junior national teams has been a dream come true and I will continue to work every day to see where my future takes me.”
Nuneviller’s Path to the Podium
2012 – A2 Future Select (Libero)
2013 – Future Select National Training Program (Libero/Outside Hitter)
2013 – USA Volleyball High Performance Holiday Camp (Outside Hitter)
2014 – USA Volleyball High Performance Championship A1 Select (Outside Hitter – 5th Place)
2014 – USA volleyball High Performance Holiday Camp (Libero)
2015 – USA Volleyball High Performance Championship A1 Select (Libero – 5th Place)
2015 – USA Volleyball High Performance Holiday Camp (Libero)
2016 – U.S. Girls Youth National Team (Libero, 2nd at NORCECA Girls’ U18 Championship)
2016 – USA Volleyball High Performance Holiday Camp (Libero)
2017 – U.S. Girls Youth National Team (Libero – 8th at FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championship)
2018 – U.S. Women’s Junior National Team (Libero – 1st at NORCECA Women’s U20 Championship)