Hailing from the island of Puerto Rico, Valeria Vázquez Gomez is the face of her nation’s growing volleyball culture. Born just 40 minutes away from the Puerto Rican capital San Juan, Pittsburgh Volleyball’s star outside hitter formed a deep connection with volleyball. However, during her childhood in Manatí, volleyball wasn’t the first choice for Gomez.

Instead, her father, Ramón Vázquez Meléndez, played professional basketball and influenced the youngster to follow in her footsteps. Yet, Gomez wasn’t tied to a single sport and tried her hand at different disciplines, some of which she never liked. “I swam for maybe a few months and hated it,” Valeria Vázquez Gomez told Pitt Volleyball earlier this year. Thankfully, volleyball was a different story.

How Valeria Vázquez Gomez’s family played a huge role in her athletic career

Besides her father’s history of playing basketball. The Pittsburgh volleyball star grew up with siblings who also shared their father’s love for competitive sports. Growing up alongside four siblings, Frances, Verüshka, Jonathan, and Zahira, it was Zahira who influenced her younger sister to take up volleyball. Gomez was just five when she first laid her hands on a volleyball.

However, the outside hitter soon fell in love with the sport. Coincidentally, not just Zahira and Valeria, but all of Ramón Vázquez Meléndez came to love volleyball. However, it was Valeria Vázquez Gomez who showed the most promise among her siblings. However, that may not have been possible unless the hitter realized she had been playing the wrong position.

“When I was little, I started as a middle blocker and hated it. I feel like when I transitioned to outside hitter, I started to like the sport more. I liked to hit the ball and loved how fast-paced it is. Playing with my sister also made it more special,” the sixth-year hitter at Pittsburgh Volleyball explained. However, with her full potential unlocked, the 6’1 quickly climbed the ranks.

Her talent on the court didn’t escape the recruiters for too long. And as luck would have it, just the right recruiter with the right connection would spot Gomez’s talents. The recruiter had connections with the Pittsburgh Panthers and immediately recommended her as the team was looking for an outside hitter. Thus began the Puerto Rican’s journey to the NCAA.

Gomez’s unconventional journey to donning the Pittsburgh Volleyball jersey

The Panthers’ coaching staff, including head coach Dan Fisher, was impressed by what they saw, so associate head coach Kellen Petrone and then assistant coach Lindsey Behonick flew out to Puerto Rico to see the young talent in action. While standouts such as Valeria Vázquez Gomez often make the rounds, visiting several universities before they commit, the humble youngster from Manatí didn’t have that luxury.

So as the day they would watch her play in person neared, she felt the pressure mount. “Kellen saw me, and I played really badly… I was super anxious,” recalled the Pittsburgh volleyball star. However, it turned out that Gomez had been a bit too anxious. “They offered me a scholarship! I cried and made the decision on the spot to come to Pitt,” said the volleyball player.

Arriving in Pittsburgh was a special experience for Valeria Vázquez Gomez. After all, she had made it to the city that glorified baseball legend Roberto Clemente, who also hailed from Puerto Rico. And while Gomez hasn’t replicated Clemente’s level of fame, the Panthers’ member has helped her team break new ground in NCAA volleyball.

Besides helping Pittsburgh Volleyball win two ACC Conference titles, Valeria Vázquez Gomez has led her team to three consecutive NCAA Championships Final Fours, including their first-ever Final Four appearance in 2022. With Pitt still in the running for the 2024 national championships and Gomez joining the Omaha Supernovas as the 30th pick in the 2024 PVF Draft, the future looks bright for the Panthers’ star player.