Mei Corricello

Senior Mei Corricello began her volleyball career as an 8-year-old, working her way up through both club and school teams. Nine years of dedication and commitment has netted Corricello admission to Georgetown University as a volleyball player and a political science major.

Corricello grew up watching Stanford volleyball games. Admiring the student athletes who played at such a high level, Corricello resolved to one day be in their shoes. 

Her journey started with the Mountain View Volleyball Club and took her through recreational league teams, other volleyball clubs and school volleyball. Throughout it all, she was able to meet her best friend of eight years, influential coaches and supportive peers. 

“It’s a really amazing and unique feeling to be out on the court with people that love and support you when you are all working toward the same exact goal,” Corricello said.

However, Corricello also faced setbacks, including a hip flexor injury in her junior year. While the injury limited her ability to play volleyball at a national competition, the experience was extremely formative.

“I realized the importance of rest and diversifying my training,” Corricello said. “You don’t necessarily have to train in the same sport nine hours each day; there are many other things you can do to make you a more well-rounded athlete.”

Corricello’s free time is often spent in the gym, whether it be practicing, coaching younger kids or competing in tournaments. On some schooldays, she stays at the gym until late at night, and during tournament weeks, she spends around 30 hours a week on volleyball. While it’s an intensive routine, Corricello’s passion and love for her sport, as well as her teammates, drive her forward.

“Finding people who believe in you, and who you believe in too, is the key to success,” Corricello said. “That’s what makes Mountain View Volleyball Club the right environment for me. It’s like my second home.”

She began to consider a collegiate career in volleyball at 15 with the encouragement of an assistant coach. COVID-19 proved to be a challenge in getting college coaches to see her play in-person, but Corricello persistently emailed different universities and presented her skill through game recordings. Through all her research and in-person visits, Corricello found Georgetown to be the perfect intersection of academics and athletics, with a great surrounding environment and a history of civic engagement. 

“I really liked Coach Heller, the Georgetown coach,” Corricello said. “He supports his players both on and off the court — both their classroom and their career achievements. After meeting with other players, I realized that this was the right college for me.”

It took one year of waiting, but finding out that she was accepted to Georgetown was a momentous and rewarding achievement for Corricello. Corricello hopes to continue her volleyball career throughout college and stay connected to her sport afterward, potentially by coaching volleyball. 

“All my coaches have really supported me and helped me grow as a person and player,” Corricello said. “I’m really inspired by the work they do, so I want to do the same for other people.”

Reflecting on her path to college volleyball, Corricello shares her advice to other aspiring recruits. 

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Corricello said. “Don’t tell yourself that you can’t do something; plenty of other people are already going to tell you you can’t. Don’t cross a school off your list before they cross you off their lists. You have to believe that you can do it because no one else is going to believe for you. And you always have to be your biggest advocate. If you do, then I think anything’s possible.”