Berkeley High School senior Cyniya Stewart was a freshman when she switched from playing basketball to volleyball. “I tried out for volleyball just on a fluke during ninth grade, and I liked how fun it was,” Stewart said. Getting into a competitive sport like volleyball so late had its challenges. “Usually for volleyball, you start way earlier and I didn’t start playing until ninth grade,” Stewart said, “So a big challenge for me was consistently trying to catch up with everyone else.” Stewart has now been playing for four years and is currently positioned as a middle on the girls varsity team. Her motivation and drive in the process of recruitment has come from her mother and first coach. “(My coach) really believed that I could play volleyball in college and my mom really pushed me to keep going,” Stewart said. After winning in a state competition and earning a trip to nationals with her club team, Stewart continues to work hard and aim high. With only a couple more games left, she hopes to finish strong and to once again lead her team to the North Coast Section playoffs.
Athlete profile: Cyniya Stewart volleyball athlete profile
By Kesl Humphreys,
October 24th, 2025