Ava Calle: Defying Expectations in Volleyball

Ava Calle from Mother McAuley has faced criticism regarding her height in volleyball. Many have told her that at 5-foot-2, she is too short for the sport, especially at the college level and certainly not for Division I. Yet, she has committed to Youngstown State before her season started, proving the doubters wrong.

“I hear it all the time — I’m too short,” Calle said. “I just play over it. I don’t care about height. It’s second nature to hear that stuff. Sometimes, I’m out there to prove people wrong. But I’m focused on my team and what I can do, not on what others say. I don’t need outside validation.”

Despite height concerns, Calle excels defensively for the Mighty Macs. In Tuesday night’s match, she contributed eight digs in a 25-21, 25-18 win against St. Laurence in Burbank. Keira McQuillan, a UConn recruit, achieved 11 kills for McAuley (26-3, 5-1), while Jayce Prohaska added ten, and Coastal Carolina-bound Peyton Heatherly made 27 assists.

Meanwhile, St. Laurence’s Aubrey Martinez and Abby Ambrose each had nine kills. Senior libero Leah Romano left the game early due to a leg injury.

Calle compensates for her stature with resilience. “Ava is definitely a strong force for us,” said McAuley coach Jen DeJarld. “She’s one of the state’s strongest defenders. She’s quick and moves fearlessly.”

Reflecting on her growth, Calle noted her aggressive play, saying, “I tell myself, ‘Just go.’ In club, I used to run over chairs. It’s crazy, and I’ll do it anytime.” DeJarld observed increased confidence in Calle, noting her leadership and skills as vital to the team’s success.

McAuley has won ten straight matches since their last loss on September 22, including two victories over Class 4A champion rival Marist and Louisville’s Assumption, ranked No. 3 nationally.

Calle said, “This team has awesome people. Everyone plays for each other, not for themselves. I love the tradition and culture at McAuley.”

Introduced to volleyball by her mother, Erin Calle, who played at Queen of Peace, Ava embraced the sport over basketball and gymnastics.

“Volleyball is such a big part of my life. I wouldn’t be the same without it,” Ava stated.

Despite the often-overlooked libero role, Calle thrives there. “I like earning points for the team,” she said. “If I make a perfect pass, the hitters will kill the ball. Consistency in this can lead to many victories for us.”