University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Ana Julia Bleeker
September 13, 2022 | Volleyball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
At first, Ana Julia Bleeker didn't want to play volleyball. When she was young, the Georgia freshman was happy doing gymnastics and didn't want to give volleyball a shot — but once she did, Bleeker quickly fell in love with a sport.
A libero/outside hitter from Windermere, Fla., near Orlando, Bleeker comes from a very athletic family. Her mother, Katiane, played volleyball at USF, while her father, Brett, played football at Boston College. For Bleeker, her path to volleyball was through her mom, who encouraged her to give it a try.
During a recent Quick Chat, Bleeker talked about her start in the sport, adjusting to college life, being from an athletic family, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: How are you adjusting to this new experience of being a college student and a college volleyball player?
Bleeker: My teammates have been a great help, especially because (fellow freshmen) Estelle (Haugen) and Tori (Harper), we're all in the same boat so we're helping each other navigate campus and figuring timing, like when we need to leave for class or practice now that there's traffic and it's not summer anymore. Just planning out our schedules and getting used to a new world with each other.
It's been really good to have people around me that have experienced all of this before and know how to help you.
Frierson: Is it all about what you expected?
Bleeker: I feel like I knew that it was going to be a lot, and everyone told us that it was going to be a lot, but when it first hits you, you're like, wow, they weren't lying. This is a lot but we also have resources. If you're going to fail, you're not using what's around you. There are a lot of people here to help you figure out what's going on between sports and academics and free time.
Frierson: I saw that you come from a very athletic family. What was it like growing up in your family? Was it sports, sports, sports all the time?
Bleeker: I guess sports are always introduced at a young age, but I was always into sports, so it wasn't like I was forced into it. Sports were always fun for me and it was a natural thing, and it helped to have parents that know sports because they can give you more of a player/coach perspective, rather than like just a parent patting you on the back.
It's cool having multiple perspectives, especially as a young athlete.
Frierson: What sports did you play growing up, and when did volleyball become your No. 1 sport?
Bleeker: I played soccer for a long time and then I hopped into gymnastics around second and third grade, and then in fourth grade, I started volleyball. At first, I did not like the sport at all because my mom made me try out. It was the sport she played and she was like, "You should try out." And it took me away from gymnastics, so I was like, "This stinks, and I'm missing gym practice!"
But after my first season and really getting to know the girls and experiencing the team aspect of the game, I fell in love with it. And it was volleyball from then on.
Frierson: When did you realize you have a future in the sport beyond high school and club ball?
Bleeker: The end of my 13s and the beginning of my 14s club seasons was when I realized there was a chance, an opportunity for this. Our team at the time had just won the AAU nationals, so there were always eyes on us. But it wasn't ever a pressure thing, it was more of, if you want it, you have to chase it.
Going through the whole recruiting process was difficult and not the most fun at times, but I wound up at the right place — and this place feels like home.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Bleeker: Cheesecake.
Frierson: I've done hundreds of these and I don't think anyone has ever said cheesecake.
Bleeker: Cheesecake or brownies and ice cream.
Frierson: Have you learned to make a good cheesecake?
Bleeker: I do bake but I have not reached into the territory of homemade cheesecake because I feel like they're not as good as something like a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. But I do bake a lot of cookies and I make a good s'mores cookie and a rocky road cookie. For big family events everyone is like, "Are you making your cookies?" And I'm like, "Of course!" Baking is fun.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
At first, Ana Julia Bleeker didn't want to play volleyball. When she was young, the Georgia freshman was happy doing gymnastics and didn't want to give volleyball a shot — but once she did, Bleeker quickly fell in love with a sport.
A libero/outside hitter from Windermere, Fla., near Orlando, Bleeker comes from a very athletic family. Her mother, Katiane, played volleyball at USF, while her father, Brett, played football at Boston College. For Bleeker, her path to volleyball was through her mom, who encouraged her to give it a try.
During a recent Quick Chat, Bleeker talked about her start in the sport, adjusting to college life, being from an athletic family, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: How are you adjusting to this new experience of being a college student and a college volleyball player?
Bleeker: My teammates have been a great help, especially because (fellow freshmen) Estelle (Haugen) and Tori (Harper), we're all in the same boat so we're helping each other navigate campus and figuring timing, like when we need to leave for class or practice now that there's traffic and it's not summer anymore. Just planning out our schedules and getting used to a new world with each other.
It's been really good to have people around me that have experienced all of this before and know how to help you.
Frierson: Is it all about what you expected?
Bleeker: I feel like I knew that it was going to be a lot, and everyone told us that it was going to be a lot, but when it first hits you, you're like, wow, they weren't lying. This is a lot but we also have resources. If you're going to fail, you're not using what's around you. There are a lot of people here to help you figure out what's going on between sports and academics and free time.
Frierson: I saw that you come from a very athletic family. What was it like growing up in your family? Was it sports, sports, sports all the time?
Bleeker: I guess sports are always introduced at a young age, but I was always into sports, so it wasn't like I was forced into it. Sports were always fun for me and it was a natural thing, and it helped to have parents that know sports because they can give you more of a player/coach perspective, rather than like just a parent patting you on the back.
It's cool having multiple perspectives, especially as a young athlete.
Frierson: What sports did you play growing up, and when did volleyball become your No. 1 sport?
Bleeker: I played soccer for a long time and then I hopped into gymnastics around second and third grade, and then in fourth grade, I started volleyball. At first, I did not like the sport at all because my mom made me try out. It was the sport she played and she was like, "You should try out." And it took me away from gymnastics, so I was like, "This stinks, and I'm missing gym practice!"
But after my first season and really getting to know the girls and experiencing the team aspect of the game, I fell in love with it. And it was volleyball from then on.
Frierson: When did you realize you have a future in the sport beyond high school and club ball?
Bleeker: The end of my 13s and the beginning of my 14s club seasons was when I realized there was a chance, an opportunity for this. Our team at the time had just won the AAU nationals, so there were always eyes on us. But it wasn't ever a pressure thing, it was more of, if you want it, you have to chase it.
Going through the whole recruiting process was difficult and not the most fun at times, but I wound up at the right place — and this place feels like home.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Bleeker: Cheesecake.
Frierson: I've done hundreds of these and I don't think anyone has ever said cheesecake.
Bleeker: Cheesecake or brownies and ice cream.
Frierson: Have you learned to make a good cheesecake?
Bleeker: I do bake but I have not reached into the territory of homemade cheesecake because I feel like they're not as good as something like a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. But I do bake a lot of cookies and I make a good s'mores cookie and a rocky road cookie. For big family events everyone is like, "Are you making your cookies?" And I'm like, "Of course!" Baking is fun.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
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