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/ Women's Volleyball
From overlooked to overseas: Haluska’s path less traveled leads to Greece
5/4/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State Volleyball alum Addison Haluska has signed to play volleyball internationally in Markopoulo, Greece, for AO Markopoulo Volleyball. She becomes the 12th Fresno State volleyball player to sign an international contract, and the first during Leisa Rosen's tenure.
Haluska's volleyball career began in the seventh grade, later than the typical professional athlete. "Everyone always told me I was tall and should play volleyball," Haluska said. "I tried out for the seventh-grade team, didn't make it, and then I was a manager."
Although she didn't land a spot on the seventh-grade team, Haluska took on the role of team manager. Initially, she was embarrassed by the offer, but her parents convinced her that it would be an opportunity to grow her knowledge of the game. "I still participated in every single practice, I would help out during games, shagging balls, taking the stats that I could. It really helped with my volleyball IQ," Haluska explained. " I learned a lot through the process, getting a different perspective and not being on the team, and it built my appreciation as I got to play more."
After countless nights practicing with her dad, Haluska made the eighth-grade team and began playing club volleyball. She started her club volleyball career at East Valley Juniors Volleyball Club in the United Girls Program, the club's regional-level program focused on athlete development, team camaraderie, and competitive play. After a few years of development on the regional team, her coach urged her to move on to the EVJ Elite team, the club's national team for athletes ready to compete at the highest level of girls' club volleyball.
This is when it hit Haluska that she had a serious shot at playing volleyball at the next level. "From that point on, when I would go to tournaments and coaches would be there observing and coming into practice, that's when I realized that I really wanted to take it seriously," she said. "I had taken a step to grow in volleyball, and that is when I realized that it was my sport."
Haluska finished her high school and club volleyball career as a standout in the state of Arizona. At Campo Verde High School in her hometown of Gilbert, Arizona, she was a team captain and named Region 5A Player of the Year as a senior. She finished the year in the top 10 in kills in the state and earned first-team all-region honors three times, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Haluska was recruited to Fresno State with the Class of 2022 by former Fresno State Volleyball Head Coach Jonathan Winder. Soon after, Winder stepped down as the program's head coach to explore other opportunities.
Through the uncertainty of a head coach change, Haluska decided to stay at Fresno State. "I had come to camps and had gotten my official visit later on, and I immediately fell in love with the team and the culture and the work ethic of everybody," she explained. "I felt committed to the program and didn't want to make any emotional changes when I found out [Coach Winder] was leaving. I wanted to have the opportunity to come here and to give it my all."
Haluska played in 29 matches in her freshman season under Interim Head Coach Abbey Wright, making 22 starts and collecting 162 kills, 69 block assists and 16 service aces, making her an early standout.
Following her freshman year, current head coach Leisa Rosen was appointed to lead the Bulldogs, bringing along Associate Head Coach Jerome Fraisse and Assistant Coach OJ Catalan. Haluska chose to stay at Fresno State despite a second coaching change in her short career.
Haluska led the Bulldog offense in her sophomore season en route to a Mountain West tournament title under head coach Leisa Rosen, marking the team's first conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance since 2002.
Over four seasons as a Bulldog, Haluska was named All-Mountain West three times and etched her name in the Fresno State record book, recording the third-most career kills in program history. She was also named Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year prior to her senior season in 2025.
"Every single season I had here was very different, and I was exposed to a lot of different challenges," Haluska said of her time as a Bulldog. "I grew a lot as a person and a volleyball player through all the different challenges that we went through. I feel like I didn't have a very typical experience, and I think that prepared me for a professional career even more."
Haluska was preparing to close the book on her volleyball career after her senior year. "I was going to move on and go to nursing school and start my life," she said. After a couple of months of reflection, she decided she wasn't ready to let go of volleyball just yet. "I talked to a lot of people and got a lot of opinions so I could make an educated decision. I met with different agents to make sure I found the right fit."
She picked an agent who understood her values and goals as a professional volleyball player. "We started to have a really good relationship, and I trusted him," she said. "I waited patiently until he got back to me with a few teams who had offers for me. We discussed the different teams and what was the best fit for me." After some deliberation, Haluska signed with AO Markopoulo Volleyball in Greece.
"The second I heard about the offer, I knew that was where I wanted to go. My lifestyle and the things I enjoy all matched perfectly with Greece," she said.
Haluska reports to her new team at the end of August. In the meantime, she trains with the Bulldog volleyball team and at Valley Volleyball Academy, where she also coaches youth club teams. "Being at VVA with a bunch of younger girls, it's an honor. I get to coach these girls and be a role model for them. Their parents have rallied around me as well," she said. "I think the Valley is a little overlooked, but there's a ton of great athletes here, and being able to show these girls that they can go play sports in college or professionally overseas or whatever they want to be at a high level, it's an honor to be in that position."
To follow Addison Haluska's professional career with AO Markopoulo Volleyball, visit aom.gr.
Haluska's volleyball career began in the seventh grade, later than the typical professional athlete. "Everyone always told me I was tall and should play volleyball," Haluska said. "I tried out for the seventh-grade team, didn't make it, and then I was a manager."
Although she didn't land a spot on the seventh-grade team, Haluska took on the role of team manager. Initially, she was embarrassed by the offer, but her parents convinced her that it would be an opportunity to grow her knowledge of the game. "I still participated in every single practice, I would help out during games, shagging balls, taking the stats that I could. It really helped with my volleyball IQ," Haluska explained. " I learned a lot through the process, getting a different perspective and not being on the team, and it built my appreciation as I got to play more."
After countless nights practicing with her dad, Haluska made the eighth-grade team and began playing club volleyball. She started her club volleyball career at East Valley Juniors Volleyball Club in the United Girls Program, the club's regional-level program focused on athlete development, team camaraderie, and competitive play. After a few years of development on the regional team, her coach urged her to move on to the EVJ Elite team, the club's national team for athletes ready to compete at the highest level of girls' club volleyball.
This is when it hit Haluska that she had a serious shot at playing volleyball at the next level. "From that point on, when I would go to tournaments and coaches would be there observing and coming into practice, that's when I realized that I really wanted to take it seriously," she said. "I had taken a step to grow in volleyball, and that is when I realized that it was my sport."
Haluska finished her high school and club volleyball career as a standout in the state of Arizona. At Campo Verde High School in her hometown of Gilbert, Arizona, she was a team captain and named Region 5A Player of the Year as a senior. She finished the year in the top 10 in kills in the state and earned first-team all-region honors three times, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Haluska was recruited to Fresno State with the Class of 2022 by former Fresno State Volleyball Head Coach Jonathan Winder. Soon after, Winder stepped down as the program's head coach to explore other opportunities.
Through the uncertainty of a head coach change, Haluska decided to stay at Fresno State. "I had come to camps and had gotten my official visit later on, and I immediately fell in love with the team and the culture and the work ethic of everybody," she explained. "I felt committed to the program and didn't want to make any emotional changes when I found out [Coach Winder] was leaving. I wanted to have the opportunity to come here and to give it my all."
Haluska played in 29 matches in her freshman season under Interim Head Coach Abbey Wright, making 22 starts and collecting 162 kills, 69 block assists and 16 service aces, making her an early standout.
Following her freshman year, current head coach Leisa Rosen was appointed to lead the Bulldogs, bringing along Associate Head Coach Jerome Fraisse and Assistant Coach OJ Catalan. Haluska chose to stay at Fresno State despite a second coaching change in her short career.
Haluska led the Bulldog offense in her sophomore season en route to a Mountain West tournament title under head coach Leisa Rosen, marking the team's first conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance since 2002.
Over four seasons as a Bulldog, Haluska was named All-Mountain West three times and etched her name in the Fresno State record book, recording the third-most career kills in program history. She was also named Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year prior to her senior season in 2025.
"Every single season I had here was very different, and I was exposed to a lot of different challenges," Haluska said of her time as a Bulldog. "I grew a lot as a person and a volleyball player through all the different challenges that we went through. I feel like I didn't have a very typical experience, and I think that prepared me for a professional career even more."
Haluska was preparing to close the book on her volleyball career after her senior year. "I was going to move on and go to nursing school and start my life," she said. After a couple of months of reflection, she decided she wasn't ready to let go of volleyball just yet. "I talked to a lot of people and got a lot of opinions so I could make an educated decision. I met with different agents to make sure I found the right fit."
She picked an agent who understood her values and goals as a professional volleyball player. "We started to have a really good relationship, and I trusted him," she said. "I waited patiently until he got back to me with a few teams who had offers for me. We discussed the different teams and what was the best fit for me." After some deliberation, Haluska signed with AO Markopoulo Volleyball in Greece.
"The second I heard about the offer, I knew that was where I wanted to go. My lifestyle and the things I enjoy all matched perfectly with Greece," she said.
Haluska reports to her new team at the end of August. In the meantime, she trains with the Bulldog volleyball team and at Valley Volleyball Academy, where she also coaches youth club teams. "Being at VVA with a bunch of younger girls, it's an honor. I get to coach these girls and be a role model for them. Their parents have rallied around me as well," she said. "I think the Valley is a little overlooked, but there's a ton of great athletes here, and being able to show these girls that they can go play sports in college or professionally overseas or whatever they want to be at a high level, it's an honor to be in that position."
To follow Addison Haluska's professional career with AO Markopoulo Volleyball, visit aom.gr.
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