Gavin Kristic didn’t start volleyball with dreams of dominating at the net—he was just trying to make the JV team as a freshman. Fast-forward several years, and the UC Irvine Men’s Club Volleyball standout has become one of the most electrifying Opposite hitters in Southern California, armed with a jaw-dropping 45-inch vertical and a drive powered by relentless self-belief. Currently playing Opposite for UCI, Kristic spent two years setting for the collegiate squad at Santa Barbara City College, sharpening both his skillset and mindset. From late-night living room jump sessions to balancing a rigorous biomedical engineering course load, his journey is a masterclass in transformation, resilience, and the pursuit of athletic excellence. And now, with his sights set on the VLA and a revolutionary training tech startup, he’s just getting started.

How did you get started playing volleyball, and what made you fall in love with the sport?
I played a lot of sports growing up but was never particularly good at any of them. Volleyball was different. I started my freshman year of high school (my mom told me to)—my first sport with real tryouts, and that competitive pressure lit a fire in me. I was grinding just to make JV. What hooked me was how many technical skills there were and how quickly I could see myself improving. That rapid progress was addicting. I fell in love with the sport because I could feel myself progressing every time I stepped on the court.

Who has been the most influential person in your volleyball journey so far?
My cousins—Kyle, Devyn, and Reily—have definitely been the most influential people in my volleyball journey. They’re three brothers, they have always been my best friends, and they’re the ones who sparked my interest in the sport. They all started playing years before I did, so from the beginning, I was chasing their level. That drive to catch up to them pushed me to improve quickly. They were my original heroes—the players I looked up to and a big reason I fell in love with volleyball. They’re all setters, and Devyn starts at NYU.

What position do you play, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I spent six years as a setter and loved it, but it was tough. I was often on highly competitive teams as a newer player, and the pressure was intense. As a smaller athlete, I always dreamed of being a hitter, but I didn’t have the training early on and couldn’t perform at that level yet. I’d mess around hitting on the side for fun, but coaches never took it seriously—and I don’t blame them. I could barely aim a down ball, and my setting was what the team needed.

In high school, I got a taste of it—playing as a setter and part-time hitter. But it wasn’t until I transferred to UCI that I truly got the chance to shine as an Opposite. I was still debating whether to keep setting, but everyone around me encouraged me to hit—and I’m glad I listened.

Now, as an Opposite, my two favorite things are blocking and jousting. I’ll call for a ball tight to the net and just muscle it through the block, sometimes putting the other player on the floor. To me, it’s the closest thing volleyball has to a contact sport, and I absolutely love it.

How do you balance academics, volleyball, and personal time during the season?
Balancing academics with collegiate volleyball at SBCC was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I was determined to finish my engineering coursework in two years so I could transfer, and I ended up taking on a 3-year course load in just 2 years—while earning a 3.7 GPA. All of that while juggling five practices, two lifts, two games a week, plus travel. It was intense.

But it paid off. That experience more than prepared me for the upper-division Biomedical Engineering classes at UC Irvine. And compared to that grind, playing club volleyball here—just two practices a week—feels a lot more manageable.

As for personal time, I fit it in where I can. Back at CC, my social life was pretty much just hanging out with my teammates during volleyball—and honestly, that was more than enough. Now at UCI, I’ve got an amazing group of friends I play ball with, eat with, and catch up with whenever I get the chance. It’s a good balance.

What’s your favorite memory from your volleyball experience?
One of my favorite memories was my first tournament at UCI. I had been waiting so long to finally play as a hitter, and that day everything just clicked. Every ball I touched seemed to go down hard—I was swinging past and through blocks without overthinking, just letting it rip. It was one of those rare moments where you’re completely in the zone.

Another standout memory was playing in a Korean 9-man tournament for the Korean Christian Ministry here at UCI. The atmosphere was unreal—hundreds of people surrounding the court, cheering for their schools. The energy was electric. I hit that same “flow state” and played out of my mind. Afterward, people were coming up to me like I was a celebrity. It was the most hype I’ve ever seen on a volleyball court, and I’ll never forget it.

What’s a typical training day like for you during the season?
A magician never reveals his secrets… but I will say this—I love explosive workouts. I’m a firm believer that if you want to jump high, you have to practice jumping high. My training is all about building that explosiveness and reinforcing movement patterns that translate directly to the court.

How would you describe your team’s chemistry this season?
The UCI club volleyball program is incredible—super well organized, thanks to our club president Allen Anca, who did amazing things for the team. The chemistry this season felt like a family. Everyone was supportive, pushing each other to improve and always showing up with energy. When things got tough, we had each other’s backs. A lot of our success this year came from that mindset—the attitude we brought to practice and carried into every game made a huge difference.

What’s one drill or workout you secretly enjoy (or hate to love)?
Jumping. Always has been. It’s no secret how I got my vertical so high—I just jumped for fun, every single day. Back when I was a freshman, I couldn’t touch the ceiling in my living room. So I kept trying. Over and over again, jumping in the same spot, chasing that ceiling. By the end of the year, I could finally touch it. Now? I can hit my head on it.

My cousins used to joke that I had a “1 inch vert”—and now it’s 45″. It wasn’t from some fancy program—it was obsession and passion. I loved jumping, and I believed that if I kept doing it, I’d get just a little higher every time. And I did.

How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game or big tournament?
Sleep and nutrition are huge for me. I know how important the mental game is—confidence is everything. For me, that confidence comes from putting in the extra work at practice and taking care of my body throughout the week. When I know I’ve done everything I can to prepare, I step on the court feeling ready and focused.

Sometimes I’ll listen to jazz and put a sleep mask on before games. I love music—it gets me in the zone.

What personal goals have you set for yourself this season?
Sleep and nutrition are huge for me. I know how important the mental game is—confidence is everything. For me, that confidence comes from putting in the extra work at practice and taking care of my body throughout the week. I also love music—it helps me get in the zone. Sometimes before games, I’ll even throw on a sleep mask and listen to jazz to calm my mind and focus. When I step on the court, I want to feel relaxed, confident, and ready.

What’s a piece of advice you’ve received from a coach that stuck with you?
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t be negative toward yourself. Volleyball is a game of mistakes, and the moment you start beating yourself up, your performance drops. I constantly remind myself to stay positive and present. Before a play, I’ll quietly repeat the word “yes” under my breath—like a mantra. Yes, I’m ready. Yes, I want the ball. Yes, I’m going to score this point. Even if the play doesn’t go my way, I’m right back in my ready position, telling myself “yes” again. That simple mindset shift helps me stay confident and locked in, especially in high-pressure moments.

What motivates you to keep pushing through tough practices or losses?
Ah, yes—I’m no stranger to either.

I’ve lost big games and made mistakes in crucial moments. I’ve sat there afterward, staring into space, replaying those moments over and over in my head. The only reason those losses hit so hard is because I really wanted it. But over time, I realized that replaying those negative moments just opened the door for doubt to creep in during future high-pressure situations.

I had to learn to let go. Now, I play my heart out, but if I mess up or lose, I move on. That’s the only way to show up fully present and confident for the next moment.

Tough practices are a different story. Most of them are tough, honestly. But I’ve come to believe that the frustration and emotion I feel—especially while learning a new position like Opposite—come from the high expectations I have for myself. And that’s a good thing.

I’ve realized that the real work happens in practice. That’s where I think hard, struggle, and refine my game. So when tournament day comes, I don’t have to think—I just act. I trust my instincts. That’s why I’m a believer in tough practices—not necessarily physically exhausting, but mentally demanding. That’s where growth happens.

Where do you see yourself in volleyball over the next 3–5 years?
I love this question—I’ve been thinking about it a lot as I near the end of my time in school. Physically, I’ll be in my prime, and I plan to maintain that level for as long as possible. One of my big goals is to join a VLA team here in California and continue playing high-level, competitive volleyball beyond college.

But I also see myself giving back to the sport. I want to coach and help bring up the next generation of players—especially those who were like me when I started. On top of that, I’m building a business I truly believe in—one that I think will change the way millions of volleyball players train. My goal is to combine science, tech, and love for the game to push volleyball forward in a meaningful way.

How do you handle pressure during close matches or high-stakes points?
As an Opposite, I definitely feel the pressure—especially when I’m in the air, mid-swing, knowing the set is coming to me and there’s a massive block waiting on the other side. When I was first learning the position, I used to doubt myself in those moments. I’d feel the weight of the situation and second-guess whether I could score.

But as the season went on, that pressure started to fade. The more confident I became in my shot selection and my ability to read the defense, the more in control I felt. I started focusing less on “what if I fail?” and more on “what’s the right shot here?” It became less about pressure and more about decision-making.

For me, handling pressure is about preparation and game sense. With every rep, you learn to recognize patterns, and eventually, you just know what to do—even in the biggest moments. That confidence is what lifts the pressure.

Who’s the funniest teammate on the squad, and why?
I’d have to say… me. I pride myself on keeping things fun out there—because if you’re not enjoying it, what’s the point? That said, our whole team brings the energy, and it’s a close race for second between my two setters, Brayden and Kerem. Brayden’s a total goofball and has this sassy side that cracks everyone up. Kerem, on the other hand, has the biggest mouth I’ve ever seen on a volleyball court—he could trash-talk for hours without skipping a beat. We’ve got a great mix of personalities, and that vibe definitely helped us thrive this season.

Favorite volleyball player or team you look up to?
One of the people I look up to most in volleyball is Isaac Kneubuhl. He’s a technical skills trainer and runs TORQVB. What I admire about him isn’t just his background—it’s his philosophy. He takes a science-based approach to training, grounded in biomechanics and kinesiology, and breaks down form in a way that actually makes sense. As someone who’s super focused on form and mechanics myself, I really connect with his content. He’s helped me understand movement on a deeper level and has had a big influence on how I train.

Do you have any pre-game rituals, superstitions, or pump-up songs?
Definitely. I’ve got a bit of a unique pre-game ritual—sometimes I’ll throw on a sleep mask and listen to jazz before a match. It helps me stay calm, clear my head, and get mentally locked in. I’m big on staying centered before the chaos starts.

That said, I also love music in general—it gets me in the zone. Whether it’s something mellow to ground me or something hype to fire me up, I always have something playing. Music helps me flip the switch and get game-ready.

What’s your go-to post-tournament meal or snack?
Back home after open gyms, In-N-Out was always the go-to spot with friends. But lately, after tournaments, I’ve found myself hitting Raising Cane’s pretty consistently. Both simple, reliable, and they always hit the spot after a lot of playing.

If you weren’t playing volleyball, what sport would you try instead?
Funny question—I’ve actually thought about this before. It would definitely be either climbing or pickleball. Ironically, I used to be a hater of both, but they’ve totally grown on me. Now I love them. Climbing feels like a full-body puzzle—it challenges you mentally and physically in such a unique way. And pickleball is just pure competitive fun. I played a few times with my girlfriend and her mom, and now I’m completely hooked.

What’s something fans or coaches might be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve got a creative side that people don’t always expect I love cooking, art, and video production. I’m also a biomedical engineering major, and I’m currently building a sports training wearable business called ReForm. It’s designed to help athletes improve their form using external feedback. Keep an eye out you’ll definitely be seeing it in the next few years. I’m a middle child with two sisters. Oh, and I jump 45 inches.

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