Pepperdine University Athletics

AWARDS:
Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete – 2019, 20, 21
WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll ‘Silver’ Honors – 2019
WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll ‘Bronze’ Honors – 2018, 21
 
PEPPERDINE CAREER: Has played in 32 matches with 56 total sets throughout her three seasons in the navy and orange, while making three starts … Tabbed 0.82 kills and 0.57 blocks per set.
 
PEPPERDINE 2020: Played in 12 matches and 24 total sets as a junior … Amassed 0.96 kills and 0.62 blocks per set, while hitting for a .362 hitting percentage … Led the Waves in blocks in three matches and hitting percentage once … Tabbed a season-high nine kills on a .615 hitting percentage and five blocks against BYU on February 24.
*The 2020 season was played in the Spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
PEPPERDINE 2019: Played in eight matches with 13 sets of action as a sophomore … Averaged 0.62 blocks/set and 0.69 kills/set for the Waves, while totaling eight blocks and nine digs.
 
PEPPERDINE 2018: Played in 12 matches with three starts in her true freshman season, and saw action in 19 sets … Averaged 0.74 kills/set with 14 kills and six errors on 40 attempts for a .200 clip on the season … Amassed 0.47 blocks/set with nine total blocks, including two blocks on three separate occasions.
 
CLUB: Played for Tstreet from 2016-18 and 949 VBC from 2014-15 … Earned bronze at Junior Open’s in 2017 with 18’s-Troy … Garnered silver at 18’s Nike Mideast Qualifier in 2018 with 18’s-Troy … With Tstreet, she and the earned a USA Volleyball Girls 18’s Junior National Championships Bronze medal in 2017.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, Calif. in 2018 … Played three seasons at DHHS under Mark Riva as a middle blocker in the Sea View League … Earned a spot on DHHS’s Wall of Fame after earning six varsity letters in two sports and All-League first team honors in both volleyball and track and field … Also helped both teams to League Championship titles in 2017 … Earned MVP honors in track and field in 2016 and 2018 … Broke the discus relay record and was 2^nd in the CIF in 2018 and 2^nd on the All-Time List for her high school … Garnered the AP Scholar award and Superintendent’s/Principal’s Honor Roll accolades in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
 
PERSONAL: Majoring in biology … Daughter of Renata Ballo and Moumine Ballo … Has one sister Aminata and one brother Tiemoko … She went on a school mission trip to Thailand with the DHHS Peace Corps Club, where she and her group helped paint and irrigate a local school in the village of Mai Sariang. She stated the trip “sparked an interest in traveling to less fortunate areas and providing them with service they need” … Stated an interesting fact about herself is that she is the only person from her family not born in the United States. Her mother was born in Poland and father in Africa, while her older brother and sister were also born in Poland … Chose Pepperdine because “of the family-oriented nature and the extremely kind coaching staff and team.”
 
FAVORITES: Favorite thing about the sport of volleyball is the speed and competitiveness of the game and the use of teamwork and being able to grow together … Serena Williams (pro athlete) … Pittsburgh Steelers (pro team) … The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (book) … My Neighbor Totoro (movie) … The Office (TV show) … SZA (musical artist) … fish tacos (food) … track and field (sport other than volleyball) … hiking, drawing and water coloring and going to the beach (hobbies/pastimes).