For the past six years, I've traveled across the country speaking with high school volleyball players who want to play in college. Many of them feel like they have what it takes to get recruited, but lack knowledge about how the process works. Be sure to avoid these top recruiting mistakes if playing college volleyball is your--or your child's--goal.

1. Assuming you will be actively recruited.

According to USA Volleyball, volleyball is the third most popular high school sport for girls with approximately 404,000 girls competing on varsity-level teams. If your club team travels, you are well aware of the competition. When you walk into a tournament, you see rows upon rows of nets--often more than 100 courts. In order to get the attention of college coaches, you must be proactive--don't wait for them to call you.

2. Underestimating your abilities to play in college.

With the multitude of programs out there and an abundant number of available scholarships, a player doesn't need to be the best athlete on the team or in her league in order to earn a spot on a college roster. While she should be skilled at the sport, she should be aware that the "blue chip players" are not the only ones receiving scholarships. There are so many options available to women's volleyball players that if you are passionate about the game, you can absolutely find a college program to call home!

3. Making bad decisions.

Obviously, getting into trouble with the law or abusing drugs and alcohol will severely affect your chances of earning an athletic scholarship, but those aren't the only choices that might get you benched before ever signing with a program. Be aware that poor decisions can reflect negatively on how others perceive your character. A college coach will equate your off-court decision-making abilities to your on-court personality.

A relatively new area students need to consider is social networking. Be very careful about what you post, how you say things and what pictures you share. If a coach was to view your profile and come across some inappropriate posts, it could not only leave a bad impression, it just may be the thing that eliminates you from his or her list of prospects. There have been many instances where athletes have lost out on scholarship opportunities due to inappropriate social media posts.

4. Performing poorly in the classroom.

Coaches look for student-athletes who can perform on and off the court. It's imperative that all student-athletes take their academics seriously. Each class, each semester, each year COUNTS! Do not let anyone convince you otherwise.

Did you know you may actually earn a full academic scholarship with a 3.5 GPA? This equates to more than $160,000! When it comes to college recruiting, coaches look at the full package. They evaluate your high school transcripts, as well as your ability and attitude--on and off the court.

This does not mean if you underperformed in the classroom that you can't get recruited or play in college. However, the opportunities open to you may be different. Those who experience academic challenges may consider taking the junior college route to get a fresh start after high school. Junior colleges offer full scholarships, including room and board. Players can still move away from home and have a college experience at the JC level. Sometimes the junior college route is a better path for an athlete, especially if they are trying to get recruited to play at a higher level than what they are currently being recruited for.

5. Relying solely on your club or coach to get you recruited.

Your coach and club director are amazing resources, but don't expect them to go out and get you a scholarship. As a student-athlete, you have to figure out what you are looking for in a college experience BEFORE you turn to your coach, and you need to take the proactive lead to make sure you are making the first move and connecting with colleges.

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Kara Hill is a noted recruiting specialist and the founder of My Recruiting Solutions.