‘The Best of the Best’: From High School Huddles to Team USA

(CAMARILLO, Calif.) — Few high school athletes can say they have represented their country, and even fewer can say they have done it before turning 18. Matt Fisher is one of them — a top volleyball player who has taken his game from Camarillo, Calif., to the international stage. 

Standing at 6’6″, the 17-year-old setter from Adolfo Camarillo High School has helped his varsity team dominate the Coastal Canyon league with a 6-1 conference record, going 19-5 overall this season. And they’re not done yet — as team captain, Fisher will lead his team into the CIF state playoffs for a chance at clinching another title.  

With his fast hands, quick reactions, and sharp instincts, he recently represented Team USA on the U19 national team. It was an experience that not only tested his skills on a global level but reaffirmed his place amongst the nation’s best. 

“Everybody there is a leader on their team,” Fisher said of the U19 roster. “It’s just twelve leaders coming in all together. Everybody knows everyone there is the best of the best.”  

Fisher’s command over the court was built on consistency—the kind that earns respect from opponents and interest from high-level scouts. He has proven not to be just another athlete in the gym; he is a system-builder, a rhythm-setter, and a team anchor. In person, his game is gritty and relentless.  

His foundation, he says, comes from home. 

“My family’s a volleyball family,” he said. “My uncle coached at the University of Pittsburgh, he coached on the national teams, and he played on the national teams. My brother played volleyball as well.”  

This past November, Fisher signed his letter of intent to play Division II volleyball at Concordia University Irvine. There, he will train under a four-time All-American setter and continue to grow his skills with his eyes set on a future as an Olympian. 

“All the check boxes hit off,” the athlete said of his decision. “It’s a Lutheran University, so I get to follow my faith. I’m gonna [sic] have so much fun there.”  

Even as his path to the next level sharpens, the present moment weighs heavily. Sporting the jersey number five, he played his final home match — senior night — and confessed that the milestone hit harder than expected. 

“That was the fourth time I’ve stood there and listened to speeches,” Fisher said. “But this time, it was different. It’s just been an awesome ride.”  

What makes him a standout athlete is that, for all his accolades — the U19 team spot, the college commitment, being varsity team captain — he remains grounded in the work. Fisher sees his team’s progress not as a destination but as momentum driving them to the next win. And when asked what motivates him during days when it’s hard to get out of bed, he points not to pressure, but to those around him.  

“I just think about what [my teammates] are doing,” the athlete said. “I know they’re not gonna [sic] have an off day, that fuels me to get up.”  

In a few months, the jersey number will change, the teammates will too, but Fisher’s passion for volleyball and the effort that got him there will remain the same.