Penn State women’s volleyball commit Izzy Starck was invited to December’s Under Armour All-America Match following a standout showing in Friday’s UA Next camp series event in Louisville, Kentucky.
Starck and Florida commit Alec Rothe, who regularly joins Starck at USA volleyball’s NTDP events, were the only players to receive golden tickets at the first Under Armour camp stop of the season. Other camp locations include Kansas City, Missouri (March 31), Dallas, Texas (April 13), Orlando, Florida (June 20), Chicago, Illinois (July 7), and Southern California (July 28).
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Starck, a highly touted setter, verbally committed to the Nittany Lions on June 21, 2022, two days after Elmhurst, Illinois, libero Ava Falduto became the first member of Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class. Falduto told DigNittanyVolleyball that she’s planning to attend the Chicago camp in hopes of earning an invite to join Starck in Orlando.
The annual Under Armour All-America Match will bring together more than two dozen of the nation’s best high school volleyball players to compete in the prestigious exhibition, which is routinely held in late December. The invitees will also train together, try out cutting-edge recovery tools, and be outfitted in the newest Under Armour gear.
Starck’s older sister, Anjelina, a rising junior outside hitter for the Nittany Lions, was also invited to the Under Armour All-America Match as a member of the 2021 recruiting class, but was unfortunately unable to participate in the showcase as it was canceled due to COVID-19. Penn State players on the 2023 roster who competed in the match include Alexa Markley, Macy Van Den Elzen, and Jess Mruzik, who was named MVP in 2019.
Starck discussed her experience at the Louisville camp, which was held at KIVA Sports, as well as her thoughts on receiving an invite to Orlando in an exclusive interview with DigNittanyVolleyball. You can read our previous interviews with Starck here and here.
“It was a really great and fun experience,” Starck said of her time in Louisville. “I got to meet a ton of new people and see people I already knew, which was super great.”
Looking Forward to the Under Armour Match
Starck said she’s watched the Under Armour match in previous years and is looking forward to finally getting her chance to compete in the event. The date of this year’s match has yet to be announced.
“I am so excited to receive the invite to the match because I have been following along with the match for a while, and it has always been something I have wanted to experience,” Starck said.
Gatorade Colorado Volleyball Player of the Year
Starck was recently named Gatorade Colorado Volleyball Player of the Year for 2022-23, following in her sister and Olympic gold medalist Haleigh Washington’s footsteps. Anjelina was the first volleyball player from Rampart High School in Colorado Springs to receive the award in 2020-21, while Doherty High School’s Washington was recognized twice (2012-13, 13-14).
“It means so much to me, especially because my sister and I both got to accomplish it,” Starck said. “Also, we are the only athletes to receive this honor at Rampart, so being able to be next to each other in the gym is so cool.”
Season with Colorado Juniors Going Well
Starck previously helped the U.S. youth national team win gold at the 2022 NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup last July in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was her first time representing her country on an age-group national team. She’s also a standout for the Colorado Juniors on the club circuit. Starck touched on how her club season is going so far and her goals for the rest of the spring.
“It’s going really well,” she said. “We had a great finish at the NIT at fifth place, which is the best I have ever finished there. Definitely to get in the top three at the rest of the qualifiers and get top 10 at nationals.”
Moving to Florida
Starck concluded her interview with an interesting update regarding her senior season of high school volleyball, saying she and her family are moving to Florida in July. Starck spent the last three seasons at Rampart, where she and Anjelina helped the Rams win the Colorado 5A state championship in May 2021.
Izzy will play for Viera High School in Melbourne, Florida, this fall. The Hawks went 22-6 in 2022 after losing to New Smyrna Beach in five sets in the 6A state championship match. Starck will try and lead Viera to a title in her final high school season before arriving at Penn State.
“I’m super excited for that new experience and to maybe get a state championship in Florida,” Starck said.