Get to Know 14-Year-Old USA MVP Kari Knotts

If you don't know her name already, you will soon – as it is only a matter of time until she becomes a household name in the volleyball world. An outside hitter out of Georgia, Knotts’ stands at 6-3 and has an approach touch akin to that of the top current collegiate players, a staggering 10 '9. With such a high vertical and the physicality to match it, it’s no surprise that Kari has established herself as one of the most terminal young attackers in the country and has already caught the attention of a myriad of top programs. Not only that, but she has already developed a strong sense of court awareness that makes her all the more harder to defend. However, it is not just her offensive prowess that makes Kari so valuable on the court, but her all-around consistency and disposition that carry all the qualities of a burgeoning six-rotation star. 

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Kari discovered volleyball at the ripe age of seven, while playing at the YMCA. “My parents signed me up for many different sports so I could find the one I loved, and volleyball immediately stood out to me.” But her connection to the game went beyond the surface level; “Since I was always tall, volleyball gave me a sense of confidence and helped me be more confident in my own skin,” she says. It’s a sentiment that many others have shared, tall girls who felt alienated before the game instilled a sense of pride in their stature, and a unique advantage as well. Kari chased that adrenaline rush and realized it was something she wanted to pursue when “I loved and enjoyed the thrill of competing and playing with my friends.” 

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Her most recent award on her already long resume of accolades came just the other day, when she was named Most Valuable Player in the U19 Pan American Cup. That, in addition to being named Best Spiker, came after what could only be described as a dominating debut in the red, white, and blue. In the first match versus Venezuela, she was the second highest-scorer with 12 points, and in the game for gold, she went off for 19 kills, 3 aces, and 2 blocks. I asked Kari how it felt to represent her country at such a young age (and to absolutely kill it); “it’s an incredible honor to represent the USA and being the youngest on the team makes it even more surreal. I feel a mix of excitement, pride, and honestly – some nerves too.” Those emotions are only natural for someone in this situation, but Kari is handling the spotlight and pressure with grace. She has Olympic aspirations that are not a distant dream, but a genuine reality, and it’s almost impossible to imagine the level she will be competing at by the time the next cycle rolls around. One thing is for sure – the world will know Kari Knotts’ name.