BRADENTON, Fla. — Hazel Alevok dreams of one day playing on Team USA.

She’s a step closer to that dream after being selected to the USA Girls’ U19 Indoor National Team. 

What You Need To Know

  • IMG Academy’s Hazel Alevok has been invited to the 2024 USA Girls’ U19 Indoor National Team

  • Recognized as one of the top student-athletes and top middle blockers in the country in her age group, Alevok is one of 20 athletes who will train in Anaheim, Calif.

  • Her dream is to one day play for Team USA

“It’s an honor to be part of the U19 training because it’s one of my biggest goals in volleyball,” Alevok said.

She’s one of 20 volleyball players chosen to train with the national team — an invitation given to the best in the country. 

“Training with USA, I want to better my game in general and become better at what I do. So, just taking advantage of the coaching, and learning from the best setters in the country too,” Alevok said.

At 6 feet 7 inches tall and with an impressive stat sheet, she’s one of the top middle blockers in the United States.  

IMG Academy volleyball director Gilad Doran is a former professional player and knows Alevok’s combination is rare. 

“You first have to be talented, you have to be good, and you have to put a lot of work,” Doran said. “If you’re in the top 15 or 20 selected most talented US volleyball players in the country in your age, you’ve got to be special, and she’s one of the top group.”

It is no small feat, especially considering the popularity of the sport.

“Volleyball is the fastest growing women’s sport in the U.S. since the 2008 Olympics. There’s over some 2 million young players who play, so to be part of the top 20, top 15 who have been selected, you can do the calculations. The percentage is very, very small,” Doran said.

Alevok started playing in middle school as a way to meet new friends, but quickly realized it was her passion. 

Her mom, Chris Field, will tell you her love for the game was visible from the very start. 

“There’s that joy in the sport and we saw it pretty early, and when she was young, they put her on a higher age team,” Field explained. “When she was in 8th grade, she was playing on a high school team. When she was 14, she played on the Florida All-Star team with 18-year-olds. So, she’s had that elite level from a very young age.”

As she embarks on another chapter in her career, she’s bringing that same joy. 

“It’s just like an honor, seeing other people on the USA team, in the gym when I’m training with the national development program is really inspiring too, because I want to be where they are and at their level.”

A step closer to one day donning red, white and blue.