Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Markle, a standout volleyball player from Old Bridge High School. As a sophomore, Ashley has already made a significant impact on her team, showcasing her skills and dedication on the court. Wearing jersey number 17, she has become a key player for the Knights, contributing to their impressive performances this season and last season. As a freshman, Ashley was truly outstanding on the hard court and was arguably the best first-year player in NJ.

Ashley true love is beach volleyball where she has been a force since a very young age. She aspires to play beach volleyball at the collegiate level and has been well groomed at the Jersey shore for a decade. But our focus in this article is drill down on her performance at the high school level in NJ in such a high level of competition on the team landscape. Old Bridge is a perennial force and a traditional top 5 team in NJ, especially at the public school level. This year is no different and Ashley has been an anchor on both the attack and defensively for the Knights as a sophomore.

As a freshman, Markle posted 296 kills, 137 digs, and 50 aces. So far this season, she is on track for similar numbers, and could start to make some significant impact on career records across the state. In this interview, we explore Ashley’s experiences, challenges, and aspirations. We’ll explore what drives her passion for volleyball, how she prepares for matches, and her goals for the future. Join us as we get to know more about Ashley Markle, a rising star in high school volleyball.

Hi Ashley… Tell us about your family? 

My  family consists of my mom, my dad, my 2 older sisters, (Jessica and Marissa), my older brother, Troy, and my dog, Duke.  

What inspired you to start playing volleyball? 

Marissa, my older sister, played for the Old Bridge Volleyball Team when I was about 5. Troy and I constantly had to go to her games and eventually we both started to get the hang of it. During timeouts we’d pepper together on the side and realized we wanted to go further and play Club.  

Beach or Hardcourt? 

Beach 100%!! There’s just something about playing your favorite sport as you’re on some of the nicest beaches in America. I also love getting to touch the ball every play.  

Tell us about your beach experience and the people that have helped inspire your career in volleyball? 

I started out playing beach when I was 9. John Bracco introduced it to me and ever since I stepped foot on the sand court, I loved it. I now travel multiple times a month for tournaments and training and have met some of the most amazing people from all around the country. I even got to meet my best friend and partner who lives in Seattle!  

How is your sophomore campaign compared to the brilliant success you had as a freshman? 

My sophomore year is going really well right now! Because of traveling multiple times a month for beach, I won’t be at as many games or tournaments as I was last year. I was very fortunate to start my high school career on such an experienced team full of very talented players. This year, due to it being my beach recruiting year, I have taken a slight step back to attend training and college camps.  

Tell us about your Knight head coach, the infamous Andrew Hopman? 

Coach Hopman is intelligent, challenging, hard working, and always pushes his athletes to be the best they can be. Not only does he teach the physical side of volleyball, but we have meetings of mental toughness and how to stay strong during hard games. He is extremely understanding of my beach schedule, and I am forever grateful to have him as my indoor coach!!  

How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your volleyball commitments? 

Balancing my academics and volleyball commitments is one of the hardest parts about being a student-athlete. Especially with traveling on the weekends and practices or games everyday, it can get tiring and difficult, but I always do my schoolwork on the plane or prioritize it when I get home.  

Can you describe a memorable moment from your volleyball career so far? 

Last year winning GMC’s was extremely memorable for me not only because we played amazing, but because I got to win with some of my favorite girls. I still remember going out after and having team dinner and we were all just so proud of each other. I am looking forward to hopefully having more of that this year.  

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Old Bridge High School volleyball team? 

There’s so much to enjoy about Old Bridge Volleyball. The atmosphere, amazing student sections, teammates, and coaches. There’s always going to be intense and challenging practices or games, but it makes it so much easier to overcome those struggles with your best friends right by your side. It’s so special to have a team like this one!  

Who is your biggest role model, and why? 

My biggest role model is my brother, Troy. He plays for the Old Bridge Boys Volleyball Team, and I was so lucky to watch him help lead his team to an undefeated season and state championship. He is my biggest supporter and constantly motivates me to be the best I can be. We have been best friends, and I am so grateful to have had him by my side since day 1 of learning how to pepper. I can’t wait to continue to cheer him on as he plays his last year at Old Bridge.  

What advice would you give to younger players who aspire to play volleyball at a high level? 

My biggest advice would be to stay consistent with everything you do. To be successful at something, you don’t need to be special or different. You just need to have discipline and consistency.  

What are your plans for volleyball after high school? 

After high school I hope to play beach volleyball in college. I also want to study law and become a lawyer someday.