PHOTO CREDIT: Norceca Official Photographers
BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
With the Paris Olympics this summer, Highland Park senior Bella Ocampo has her sights on the 2028 games in Los Angeles with the Mexican national team. She had an amazing summer competing with the senior team alongside U-21 and U-19 players.
Ocampo is committed to Loyola Marymount – also in LA, and an outside hitter for the Scots. This was her second time playing the Mexico. She played with the U-19 team last summer as a junior at the FIVB World Championships in Croatia.
“My first event representing Mexico was not only a dream come true, but such an amazing experience,” she said. “This year I got called for the senior team and playing with them was really fun and at a completely different level, which will definitely improve my game. I’m super excited for my future with the team.”
“The feeling when putting on the jersey with your country’s flag on it is indescribable. More than just happiness and excitement, but proud and also some nervousness which obviously comes with wanting to perform at your best and succeed for your country,” she said. “When the national anthem starts playing and the game begins the emotions are multiplied.
“My first time stepping on the court with Mexico on my chest was a dream come true. Since I was little it has always been a dream to compete internationally in volleyball. The moment I stepped on the court, a flashback of all my hard work that got me to this stage ran through my mind and gave me the confidence to perform. Honestly there are no words big enough to describe the feeling of representing your country at the biggest stage possible.”
Ocampo said her future goals are to help Mexico improve its rankings in preparation for the LA Olympics – as well as her college career at LMU. She said LMU was the perfect fit.
Additionally, the school has excellent academics which was just as important during her recruiting process.
“Throughout the recruiting process, everything just fit perfectly with LMU. It happened kind of fast and every positive interaction made it clear to me that this is where I belong. The coaching staff played a huge role in my decision. They genuinely believe in me and my abilities, playing for a coach that believes in me as an outride hitter was top on my list. Their support and confidence makes me feel I can achieve great things within their volleyball program.
“LMU’s volleyball program is competitive and well-respected, offering me the chance to continue developing my skills and compete at a high level. Academically, LMU offers a great education. The variety of programs and resources available ensures that I’ll receive a well-rounded and quality education, which is very important to me. As a plus the campus is stunning and who wouldn’t want to be so close to the beach. LMU provides an ideal environment for me to thrive both academically and athletically, and it aligns perfectly with my personal values and beliefs.”
The Scots return to Class 5A after playing in 6A the last two seasons, where they won 74 games overall and went 28-0 in District 7-6A. Fighting some injuries, Ocampo still posted 148 kills, 171 digs and 57 aces in 18 matches. After limited action as a freshman, Ocampo played a big role as a sophomore in 2022. She finished with 258 kills, 319 digs and 57 aces.
Highland Park will compete in District 12-5A this fall. Ocampo is one of the team captains.
“Despite the change in classification, our expectations remain just as high as they were in 6A. We’ve always aimed to perform at our best, and that doesn’t change. The main difference this season is that we’ll be facing new teams. This is both a challenge and an advantage for us. The experience we’ve gained from competing against some of the toughest teams in 6A has prepared us well. It has honed our skills and resilience, which we can now bring into the 5A district.”
Added Ocampo, “Additionally, being in a new district is exciting. It’s a fresh start and an opportunity to test ourselves against new opponents. This change brings a sense of motivation and determination to our team. We’re excited to see how we match up and to bring our best game to the new playing field.”
In club, Ocampo plays for Drive Nation – which has come in third the past two summers at the USAV Nationals.
This season, she enters 16th among Texas seniors according to Prep Dig Volleyball.
PHOTO: Matt Smith
