“Tall,” “outgoing” and a “huge cheerleader for everybody” are just a few words Los Altos High School players used to describe senior Ben Freda-Eskenazi.

As Ben moves onto his collegiate volleyball career this fall, he will bring his positive attitude and athletic prowess to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he committed to playing Division III volleyball.

Growing up having played multiple sports, mainly baseball and basketball, Ben picked up volleyball during the COVID-19 pandemic and stuck with it ever since.

“The joke is that the majority of men’s volleyball players are tall and bad at basketball, and that’s pretty accurate,” Ben said.

With a combination of hard work and natural talent, Ben established himself as a valuable player both in the club scene and high school setting. At LAHS, Ben is one of the Eagles’ top hitters and blockers.

“Ben made some really good blocks when we needed it,” sophomore Liam Meyers said. “He was also a very good hitter and hits in very smart spots, rarely getting blocked.”

On the other hand, while playing for Bay to Bay Volleyball Club, Ben views that atmosphere as more competitive.

“The high school game is geared toward having a good time and growth,” Ben said. “It’s a really cool opportunity to come together as a team and have some fun winning games and building culture. When you get back to club after the school season, everyone has their eyes set on a national title and you don’t stop pushing until you make it happen.”

With his distinct contributions to both LAHS boys volleyball and his club team, Ben is excited to continue his academic and athletic career at Stevens. Not only does Stevens have highly ranked educational programs, but it also has one of the best DIII volleyball teams in the nation — the team won an NCAA title in 2023.

“I chose Stevens for the combination of academics, athletics and location,” Ben said. “I always wanted to go to school on the East Coast, and Stevens’ situation just outside New York City is really special. The programs and research opportunities offered are all very exciting, especially studying physics with a focus on quantum engineering.”

Past the academics and Athletics, the welcoming energy of his future teammates and coaches was a big factor in Ben’s choice.

“It’s really clear that the team is focused on a lot more than just volleyball, and that level of community and genuine care is pretty rare at this level,” Ben said.
With graduation right around the corner, Ben’s contagious energy and valuable skills on the court will be missed by his teammates and coaches.

“Being positive is something that I think everybody, including myself, really likes when we get in the gym or in a match,” Head Coach Peter Kim said. “Just his presence, having Ben there with his smile and being goofy.”

“Next year, we will have a good middle but we won’t have a middle who was a great leader in the front row and rarely made blocking mistakes,” Liam said.

Even as Ben departs from the team and prepares for college, he will continue keeping tabs on the Eagles volleyball team.

“I have an agreement with the juniors that they have to make a deep enough playoff run next year that I can come and watch a game when I’m on break,” Ben said. “ I’m hoping they live up to that.”

As shown by many competitive athletes across all sports, hard work and dedication is a common theme. While those traits did show up in Ben’s high school career, his good attitude and “kind soul,” according to Kim, are what make him a true standout as he looks forward to his college volleyball career.

“It’s a totally new experience and I just want to make the most of it,” Ben said.