Who is Brett Sheward?

My name is Brett Sheward and I am from Newport Beach, California. I was born and raised there with my two amazing parents, and I have one older sister, Ashley. Outside of volleyball I enjoy watching and playing other sports like basketball and American football. I also love watching movies in my free time and my favorites are Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.

What first drew you to volleyball, and how did you get started in the sport?

I was drawn to volleyball because of my dad. He used to be a volleyball player and still loves playing beach volleyball. I saw him playing and wanted to learn. I remember him teaching me the rules of the game and being my first club coach when I was 11 years old.

How have you found living in Savo?

Savo has been great so far. It is very peaceful, and the people are quiet yet friendly when you talk with them. The food has been a good surprise because I didn’t know what to expect but it has been very good. I would also love to get a good view of the northern lights here.

What are your thoughts and expectations for the upcoming season?

My expectation is that we improve every game we play this year. We have a lot of new players, and I don’t know much about this league yet, but I do know that we must work as a team if we want to win a lot of games.

 What has been the most unforgettable moment in your sports career so far?

The most unforgettable moment in my career so far was when my team won the National Championship in 2022 when I played for the University of Hawaii.

Is there a unique story from your time in volleyball that comes to mind?

I was able to travel to Japan to play university teams there, and sometimes the only way we communicated was through volleyball, which was pretty cool.

Can you share a challenge you've faced, and how you managed to overcome it?

A challenge I faced was being asked to switch positions a couple time in my career for the benefit of the team and I managed it by setting aside my personal goals for the time and working hard to make the team better.

How do you get ready for games, both physically and mentally?

I keep it pretty simple and boring. I like to take a nap on the bus or at home before the match. I make sure I’m hydrated, and I visualize myself and the team making good plays and winning the match.

Treat others how you want to be treated.

Brett's Best Tips for the Readers

What valuable lessons or insights has volleyball given you that you’ve applied in other areas of life?

There are lots of lessons but one is to accept responsibility first. We live in a world where everyone is always pointing the finger at someone else to say it’s their fault when things go wrong. I’ve found it is always better to admit your mistakes first instead of blaming others.

What’s your best financial advice?

My advice would be to save and if you are going to spend, use it on things that will last.

What are your current dreams?

My dreams are to play volleyball for as long as I can and to raise a family of my own someday.

What advice would you like to give to young volleyball players?

My advice for young volleyball players is to play as many other sports as you can because they will all help you with volleyball and it’s good to have another interest.