Outlook
Ava Esser stands out as a primary offensive weapon the for the Cavaliers … Possesses a “cannon for an arm” and hits the ball at heavy, aggressive speed that rivals any other hitter in the conference … Her height and heavy swing allow her to score at an elite rate … Routinely overpowers defensive blockers and defenders cleanly … Buite to carry a heavy offensive workload … Her length allows her to establish a high contact point above the net, making it difficult for opposing blocks to shut her down … Thrives in high-stakes situations, whether capturing state titles in high school or anchoring the offense for a nationally ranked JCCC squad.

Freshman Year 2025
Helped Johnson County to a 25-9 record, a Region 6/District title and berth to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament … Named All-America by both the NJCAA and American Volleyball Coaches Association … Earned first-team by the NJCAA and third-team by the AVCA … Became the 35th player in team history earn NJCAA All-America, and the 18^th to be selected first-team … Became the 11^th player in team history to selected AVCA All-American … Also named All-Region 6 D-II and All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference D-II first-team … Selected the KJCCC D-II Offensive Player of the Week three times during the season … Played in 34 matches and 119 sets … Tallied 460 kills, ranking third in the conference and tied for 14^th nationally … That total also is the most recorded by a freshman in program history and ranks as the fifth-best season overall … Also ranked second in the conference in kills per set (3.87) and fourth kill percentage (.304) … Nationally ranked 22^nd in kills per set … Reached in double-digit in kills in 28 of the 34 matches, which ranks as the third-most in a season in team history, and most by a freshman … Also finished with 212 digs, 28 service aces and 80 blocks … Posted double figures in digs six times …  Made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut for Johnson County, tallying 71 kills over six matches at the season-opening tournament in Rockford, Ill., averaging 3.38 kills per set while hitting .273 to help lead the JCCC to a 4-2 record during the opening weekend of the  season … Reached double figures in kills in four of six matches, highlighted by 16 in a win over number 12 Grand Rapids (8-22-25) and 17 in a 3-1 loss to number six Gulf Coast State (8-23-25) ... Was selected the KJCCC D-II Offensive Player of the Week for week one … helped lead Johnson County to a 3-1 week in the third week of the season, tallying 64 kills while hitting an impressive .392 over the four matches …. Posted a night for the ages, recording a remarkable 31 kills to set the Johnson County record for kills in a match and lead the No. 5-ranked Cavaliers to a four-set victory at  No. 17 Neosho County in both teams' KJCCC opener (9-3-25) ... Her final stat line for the night was 31 kills, on 52 attacks for a .500 kill percentage, five blocks, and four digs … Became just the 14th player in KJCCCC history all-time to have 30-plus kills in a match …  Went on and added 33 more kills in three matches at Kirkwood Community College over the weekend that included double-digit efforts in sweeps over Sauk Valley with 13 (9-5-25)) and Southeastern with 15 (9-6-25) and earn KJCCC D-II Offensive Player of the Week for second time … Posted a double-double of 17 kills and 20 digs in a 3-1 win over No. 25 Central (9-19-25) … Earned her third KJCCC D-II Offensive Player of the Week honor in week seven after recording back-to-back double-doubles in kills and digs to help power the Cavaliers to a pair of conference sweeps during the week … Hit .455 with 24 kills, averaging 4.17 per set, along with 21 digs and 11 blocks over the two victories ... Finished with 14 kills, a .458 kill percentage, and 11 digs. Esser nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with seven blocks In a 3-0 home victory against Coffeyville (10-1-25) … In another 3-0 home win over Highland, her line was 11 kills, a .450 kill percentage, 10 digs, and four blocks (10-3-25) … She was also selected the NJCAA D-II and AVCA Offensive Player of the Week following those performances … Recorded a career-high 30 digs to go along with 10 kills in a five-set loss to No. 6 Parkland (10-11-25) … Opened the District Tournament with 15 kills in a 3-1 win at NEO A&M (11-5-25) and JCCC rally for a thrilling five-set victory over No. 4 Cowley to win the District Championship and advance to the NJCAA D-II National Tournament (11-5-25) … Nearly posted a triple-double with 19 kills, eight digs and nine blocks … Her nine blocks tie the second-most in a match in team history … Opened the NJCAA D-II Tournament with 23 kills in a tough five-set loss to No. 10 Pensacola State, tying the second-best match total by a JCCC player in national tournament play (11-19-25) … Followed with 11 kills in a sweep over Grand Rapids (11-20-25) and posted her sixth double-double on the season with 20 kills and 11 digs in a five-set loss No. 1 Parkland (11-21-25) … Finished the tournament with 54 total kills, ranking as the ninth-most recorded in tournament play by a JCCC hitter.

High School
Was a three-year starter and four-time letter winner for coach Tatiana Dowling at Seaman High School, Topeka, Kan. … Graduated 2025  … Part of one of the best senior classes in program history … Named second-team All-State by the Kansas Volleyball Association as a senior … Was also a KVA All-Star selection and named second-team All-Conference … Selected honorable mention All-Conference and All-County as a sophomore and junior … Helped the Vikings to their highest state finishes in program history with a state championship her junior year, the first in program history, a  runner-up finish as a senior and fourth-place finishes her freshman and sophomore seasons … Had 168 kills her junior year … Was also a four-time letter winner in basketball … Helped the Vikings basketball team to a State Championship as a junior and a state runner-up finish her senior year … Named honorable mention All-State as a senior … Twice selected All-Conference honorable mention … Played club volleyball for the Saints, Topeka Exel, Impact and Kansas Networks … Qualified for Nationals while a member of the Kansas Networks … Earned Academic All-State honors … Four-time four-star SHARP student … A notable alumnus from her school is Kansas Jayhawks setter Camryn Turner. 

Personal
Born Ava Ann Esser on February 2, 2007, in Topeka, Kan. … Daughter of Douglas and Kelli Esser … Has three sisters: Emma, Addi and Anni, and two brothers: Jack and Liam … Her father played football and baseball at Baker University … Also has an uncle who played basketball at Baker, and an aunt who competed in both volleyball and softball at Baker … Major is undecided … Career ambition is to be a veterinarian … Also recruited by Highland Community College for volleyball and Bethel College for basketball … Favorite foods are pasta, chips and fruit … Favorite fast food restaurant is Raising Cane’s … Favorite restaurant tis Paisano’s Ristorante … Favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy … Enjoys watching kid’s movies … Favorite actor and actress are Adam Sandler and Channing Tatum … Enjoys reading murder mystery and adventure books … County music fan … Favorite cartoon character is Jerry from Tom and Jerry … Favorite athlete is Harper Murray … Favorite sports teams are the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and the University of Nebraska volleyball team … Greatest sports moments were helping her high school volleyball and basketball team win state championships … Best player she has played against is former Washburn Rural and current University of Kentucky outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye.