Merritt joins Griz volleyball

The Montana volleyball team has added Avery Merritt to the roster for the 2025 season. Merritt, a 6-1 outside hitter, joins Montana from Eastside Catholic HS in Sammamish, Wash.

She was a three-year team captain for the Crusaders in high school earning Metro League First Team honors twice in her career. Merritt also played for Sudden Impact Volleyball Club.

"Avery adds immediate value to our program in that she ball controls really well for a pin that has really good size," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "She can pass and defend, has a great feel for the ball and for the game, and she also has a really heavy arm. I think whenever you can add the combination of ball control and power, you are going to elevate the level in the gym."

Merritt said that the culture at Montana and the other student-athletes that will be on the roster played a huge part in her decision to come to UM.

"I'm so excited, couldn't be more excited, just to join the culture and the ladies that I already know are part of that," Merritt said. "I've got to meet some of the other girls, so I'm super excited to spend more time with them and start training together."

She has an impressive volleyball resume, but it was a lot of the intangibles that she brings to the table that really sold the Grizzly coaching staff on Merritt.

"She is a person of really high character," Lawrence said. "We got more calls and emails than we usually do from coaches, athletic directors, just speaking to what a hard worker and consistent, authentic person that she is. It was apparent quickly based on what people identify as her strengths and the level that they were willing to advocate for her that this is a special person with high volleyball IQ and tools."

Merritt has been involved all four years at the high school level, earning a varsity letter every single year that she competed. In addition to the Metro League honors, she was also Eastside Catholic's Most Valuable Player twice in her career. She was also named to the Prep Dig All-Emerald City Classic Team in 2023.

She didn't make her college decision until the latter stages of the process, but once she visited to Missoula the decision came quickly after. Her experience on campus and meeting the coaching staff helped cement the decision.

"It was great. They were super helpful and honest with me," Merritt said. "The opportunity kind of came late in the game, but I just stayed persistent with them and on my visit it just felt like home. I knew I wanted to be a part of it and I felt really included and wanted."

Lawrence praised her ball control and heavy arm. For Merritt, she said that one of her biggest strengths is the passion with which she plays. She can't wait to bring that energy to Missoula in 2025.

"I play with a lot of energy and intensity whether I am on or off the court," Merritt said. "Volleyball is just so fun for me and that's why I knew I wanted to pursue it collegiately. It is what I love to do so I just play with a lot of passion and just enjoy doing it."

University of Montana Athletics

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