Starting setter for San Juan Hills’ Boys Volleyball team, Stone Riley (12), is playing in his third year on varsity. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he moved to Southern California at the start of his freshman year. As one of three captains, he has a strong voice on the court and works hard to lead his team. Recently, he officially committed to play at the University of Toronto while pursuing his studies in both economics and mathematics.
His leadership and skill did not develop overnight. During the offseason, Riley had the opportunity to train at an elite national-level training program, the National Excellence Program (NEP), in Canada. This took place during the first semester of his senior year. At this program, the intensity and expectations mirrored those of collegiate athletics.
“All our practices were really intense because everyone was [invested] and understood that when we were practicing we were there to compete and get better,” said Riley.
“[NEP] is designed to prepare athletes to perform at the highest level of our sport and to continue their development towards the National Senior Team Program and/or playing professional volleyball. It offers individual technical and tactical skill development as well as team play refinement,” stated on the NEP’s website.
The program details, player qualifications, and steps to take to securing a spot on the NEP are outlined more on their website as well. Surrounded by some of the top players in the country, including some international players, Riley was pushed to elevate each aspect of him as an athlete.
“We got to compete against international players around our age from Poland and Australia,” said Riley.
Additionally, he was taking an academically rigorous course load online in between practices and games in Canada.
“We had a 3 hour study block in between practices during the week and I was able to get most of my work done during that time,” said Riley.
Despite the demanding schedule, Riley found a happy balance between athletics and academics. The structured time built into each day allowed him to stay on top of his schoolwork while still dedicating himself to volleyball.
This experience both sharpened his skills and created unforgettable memories.
“My favorite memory was playing short court over a fence in three-foot snow on the last day of NEP,” said Riley.
With California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) just a few weeks away, Riley continues to bring the same intensity and discipline he developed at NEP to the rest of his final season at San Juan Hills. With plans to return to Toronto in college, he hopes to continue growing as a student and athlete.
