Jaden Whitmarsh is one of the fastest-rising stars on the professional beach volleyball circuit known as the AVP Tour. However, even the best players still get caught with their hands down…
The 24-year-old got absolutely blasted in the head at a recent tournament but she lived to tell the tale!
Jaden is the daughter of the late Mike Whitmarsh, who won the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, so volleyball is in her blood. A former collegiate player at UCLA, she officially moved on from the Bruins program around this time last year. Although she had played AVP tournaments in the past, like in Hermosa and Manhattan, her professional career is less than one year old. It is off to a blazing start!
Whitmarsh has two third-place finishes to her name on the AVP Tour as well as two third-place and one first-place finish during FIVB competition. The Rancho Santa Fe-native is quickly proving her worth against some of the best players of the modern era on both sides of the ball.
Although the 5-foot-9 former outside hitter does not often play up by nature of her size, Whitmarsh can put the ball down when called upon. It does not matter if it is a big block or an empty net.
It is her defense that really sets her apart. Look at the filthy up to start this rally:
Jaden Whitmarsh is an up-and-comer in the sport who has already arrived. I would imagine that these last 11 months are just the beginning of a long and successful career.
No matter how good of a player she might be, nobody — and I mean nobody — is immune to head shots. We have all been on the wrong end of a swing that very quickly turned violent when our hands got caught at our sides. Whitmarsh is not the exception! She was recently on the wrong end of a yard sale.
Fortunately, Whitmarsh was cleared to return to play after a brief moment to catch her bearings. She finished out the tournament! Her return to the court this past weekend was a lot more smooth.
Jaden Whitmarsh. Remember the name! Even her worst moments on the sand lead to beauty and grace. Volleyball is a cyclical sport in terms of success. The head shot is a great example. Ouch.