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Rossmoyne Senior High School volleyball student competing with the big guns in the US

Pia van StraalenCanning Gazette

YOUNG athlete Ellie Sloan (17) touched down in the USA yesterday to take on her international counterparts at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Rossmoyne Senior High School sports scholarship student will take to the international stage to compete against students from countries including Brazil, China, Italy and the Dominican Republic from July 19-23.

The high stakes competition will follow an intensive week of training in Orlando, Florida– an opportunity Ellie called unparalleled in Australia.

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“There is nothing like this in Australia,” she said.

“In America, volleyball is a much bigger sport and high school and college kids play strong and more powerful games… it will be amazing to be exposed to that kind of volleyball.”

Ellie said the team, made up of players from across Australia, was driven towards intensifying its training schedule and strategies rather than getting a win.

“The US is so highly regarded for volleyball (and) we are going to get that experience,” she said.

“I am looking forward to seeing their game and experiencing a tour with the girls.”

Among those watching the state of play are college scouts – viewers who offer stand out players opportunities to play in universities while they study.

“I would like to play professionally, it would be a dream to make it a career but I have other dreams too, like going to university and becoming a sports psychologist,” she said.

Ellie will travel with two other West Australians, including fellow Rossmoyne Senior High School student Victoria Wells (17).