2016 Volleyball Roster
Heller, Amanda
vs
Missouri
Sep 24 (Wed)
6:00 PM
Jersey Number 2
Amanda Heller
- Position:
- Outside Hitter
- Height:
- 6-0
- Class:
- Freshman
- High School:
- Cy-Fair
- Hometown:
- Houston, Texas
Bio
HONORS:
2017
2017 (SOPHOMORE)
Did not appear in a match and retired after the season due to a lingering injury suffered prior to her arrival at Texas A&M.
2016 (FRESHMAN)
Did not appear in a match.
PREVIOUS ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE
Enrolled at Texas A&M in January and went through spring training with the Aggies after graduating early from Cypress Fairbanks High School…Was a four year starter for the Bobcats and coach Donna Benotti, having played the outside hitter, middle blocker and setter positions…Helped lead Cy-Fair to two district titles and four appearances in the state tournament, including the 2013 regional finals as a sophomore…Earned all-district first-team honors her sophomore through senior years…Named the District 17-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman…In her rookie season, posted the match-winning block against rival Cy-Woods, which entered the contest having won 63 consecutive district matches…Was a four-year member of the academic all-district team…Was a member of the Cy-Fair swim team her freshman through junior years…Played club volleyball for Houston Juniors for four years…Coaches were Kara Pratt, Tara Cross-Battle and Jeff Ham…Competed in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship Open Division in 2013 and 2014, placing 15th and 13th, respectively…Most memorable moment of athletic career is committing to play volleyball at Texas A&M.
PERSONAL
Amanda Hays Heller is the daughter of Ritch and Sherry Heller…Has an older brother, Ryan…Her father played basketball at Stephen F. Austin, and her mother was on the Texas A&M golf team from 1983-87…Also has an uncle, Scott Hays, who lettered in football at Texas A&M in 1979-80 …Was a competitive swimmer for many years until she fell in love with volleyball in high school and chose to focus on the sport…Attended Texas A&M Volleyball Camp each of the first three years of her high school career…While growing up, idolized former Aggie volleyball players Stacy Sykora, Megan Pendergast and Tori Mellinger…Chose to attend Texas A&M because she loves the traditions and feels at home…Most memorable athletic moment at Texas A&M is playing the Chinese National Team as a freshman…Hobbies include reading, beach volleyball and yoga…Was one of 67 Texas A&M student-athletes who went on a mission trip to Haiti in May…Participated in the 2017 Big Event, the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation in which Aggies assist residents within the community…Also volunteered at the Special Olympics Spring Games…Worked for Aggie Elite Volleyball Club…Majoring in communication with a psychology minor…Career ambition is to work for and eventually develop a Christ-centered nonprofit that supports and ministers to underdeveloped or developing countries.…Born October 13, 1997, in Houston, Texas.
HELLER UP CLOSE
Favorites:
Miscellaneous:
2017
- Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
- Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
2017 (SOPHOMORE)
Did not appear in a match and retired after the season due to a lingering injury suffered prior to her arrival at Texas A&M.
2016 (FRESHMAN)
Did not appear in a match.
PREVIOUS ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE
Enrolled at Texas A&M in January and went through spring training with the Aggies after graduating early from Cypress Fairbanks High School…Was a four year starter for the Bobcats and coach Donna Benotti, having played the outside hitter, middle blocker and setter positions…Helped lead Cy-Fair to two district titles and four appearances in the state tournament, including the 2013 regional finals as a sophomore…Earned all-district first-team honors her sophomore through senior years…Named the District 17-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman…In her rookie season, posted the match-winning block against rival Cy-Woods, which entered the contest having won 63 consecutive district matches…Was a four-year member of the academic all-district team…Was a member of the Cy-Fair swim team her freshman through junior years…Played club volleyball for Houston Juniors for four years…Coaches were Kara Pratt, Tara Cross-Battle and Jeff Ham…Competed in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship Open Division in 2013 and 2014, placing 15th and 13th, respectively…Most memorable moment of athletic career is committing to play volleyball at Texas A&M.
PERSONAL
Amanda Hays Heller is the daughter of Ritch and Sherry Heller…Has an older brother, Ryan…Her father played basketball at Stephen F. Austin, and her mother was on the Texas A&M golf team from 1983-87…Also has an uncle, Scott Hays, who lettered in football at Texas A&M in 1979-80 …Was a competitive swimmer for many years until she fell in love with volleyball in high school and chose to focus on the sport…Attended Texas A&M Volleyball Camp each of the first three years of her high school career…While growing up, idolized former Aggie volleyball players Stacy Sykora, Megan Pendergast and Tori Mellinger…Chose to attend Texas A&M because she loves the traditions and feels at home…Most memorable athletic moment at Texas A&M is playing the Chinese National Team as a freshman…Hobbies include reading, beach volleyball and yoga…Was one of 67 Texas A&M student-athletes who went on a mission trip to Haiti in May…Participated in the 2017 Big Event, the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation in which Aggies assist residents within the community…Also volunteered at the Special Olympics Spring Games…Worked for Aggie Elite Volleyball Club…Majoring in communication with a psychology minor…Career ambition is to work for and eventually develop a Christ-centered nonprofit that supports and ministers to underdeveloped or developing countries.…Born October 13, 1997, in Houston, Texas.
HELLER UP CLOSE
Favorites:
- Favorite class subject: Psychology
- Favorite quote: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart” –Helen Keller
- Favorite volleyball player of all time: Stacy Sykora
- Favorite athlete (any sport): JJ Watt
- Favorite professional sports team (any sport): Texans
- Favorite social media site: Instagram
- Favorite emoji: Blushy face with hands
- Favorite type of music: Country
- Favorite food: Mac and cheese
- Favorite binge watching TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
- Favorite book: The Other Boleyn Girl or Looking for Alaska
- Favorite movie: Mona Lisa Smile
- Favorite Disney character: The Little Mermaid
- Favorite animal: Pugs
- Favorite part about the sport of volleyball: The relationships that are built
- Favorite sport to play other than volleyball: Beach volleyball
- Favorite thing about A&M: The family atmosphere
- Favorite Aggie tradition: Aggie Ring
- Favorite Karaoke song to sing: Goodbye Earl
- Favorite place to go: California
Miscellaneous:
- My nickname is: Manda
- One word to describe me when I’m on the court: Passionate
- One word to describe me away from the court: Goober
- The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career: My mom
- The accomplishment (athletic or non-athletic) that I am most proud of: Getting saved in Haiti
- The Aggie volleyball player I most idolized while growing up: Kerri Walsh
- The person I would most like to meet: Audrey Hepburn
- People have told me that I look like (name of celebrity): Myself
- The most famous athlete I have met: Kerri Walsh
- The most famous non-athlete I have met: no one :(
- The song title that best describes me: “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran (hehe)
- Best pump-up song: JuJu on that Beat
- Musical instruments that I play: Air guitar
- Languages (other than English) that I speak fluently are: Gibberish
- When I was little, I dreamed of being a: Grown up
- Early bird or night owl: Night owl
- The reality show I would most like to participate in is: Say Yes to the Dress
- I can’t believe I watch this show: Catfish
- Few people know that I: Am scared of fish
- My best non-athletic talent(s): I’m really good at reading books
- My most prized possession: My books
- My most annoying habit: Popping my fingers or grammar nazi
- My pet peeve: People spelling “definitely” “defiantly”
- My superstitions: Scrunchies
- If I had a million dollars, I would: Pay some bills
- Three things on my bucket list are:
- Meet Ellen
- Go to Abbey Road and recreate the Beatles cover
- Attend Hogwarts
- Being at A&M has taught me: That procrastination always fails
- Best piece of advice for your freshmen teammates: Trust the process
- After I graduate, I plan to: Work for a nonprofit in a different country
- My dream job is: Working in Haiti
- I am most thankful for: My friends and family
Teammate who:
- The teammate who will surprise people the most this year: Camille Conner
- The teammate who can always make me laugh: Gabby Litwin and Amy Nettles
- The teammate who dominates in the weight room: Kiara McGee
- Teammate most likely to be on People’s “Best Dressed” list: Kiara McGee or Hollann Hans
- Teammate most likely to become president: Amy Houser
Teammate who would be the best candidate for:
- America’s Next Top Model: Kaitlyn Blake
- The Amazing Race: Kiara McGee
- The Apprentice: Amy Houser
- Big Brother: Lexi Lopez
- Cake Wars: Maddie Douglas
- Chopped: Kiara McGee
- Dancing with the Stars: Amy Nettles
- Fear Factor: Makena Patterson (I just feel like it would be funny to watch her lol)
- Flip or Flop: Maddie Douglas
- Jeopardy: Lexi Lopez (she knows the most random facts)
- Impractical Jokers: Gabby Litwin
- Last Comic Standing: Me because I’m hilarious
- The Price is Right: Kiana Peroff
- Shark Tank: Amy Houser
- So You Think You Can Dance: Hollann Hans (again, would be hilarious to watch)
- Survivor: Amy Houser
- The Voice: Maddie Douglas
- Wheel of Fortune: Hollann Hans
- Wipeout: Haley Slocum
- Corbelli imitation contest: Amy Nettles
Weekly Press Conference: Jamie Morrison
Monday, September 22
LMU Postgame: Jamie Morrison
Saturday, September 20
Highlights: Texas A&M 3, LMU 0
Saturday, September 20
UNH Postgame: Jamie Morrison
Friday, September 19
