Passion for the Game: Meet Local Volleyball Star Amber Bennett 

Amber Bennett could be the poster child for living the “St. Pete dream” of living, working, and making the most of our Sunshine City. In her “day job” she’s a real estate rock star, but early each the morning, she’s an elite athlete. Volleyball is her game.

For the past nine years, Amber has trained in the heart of downtown. If you have ever passed by the beach volleyball courts at North Shore, you may have been watching volleyball players from around the world training in our slice of paradise.

I caught up with Amber to chat a few days before she was heading off to compete in yet another tournament. This time in Mexico, her final Paris 2024 qualification opportunity: the NORCECA Olympic qualification tournament finals in Tlaxcala in June.

When did you realize you were born to be involved with athletics?

It’s in my blood! My family is pretty athletic, and I’ve always loved playing sports or being involved with sports somehow. My paternal grandfather played in the NFL; my dad, Bralyn Bennett Sr., was a receiver for the University of South Carolina and went on to be a sports agent; my uncle, Brandon Bennett Sr., also played at South Carolina, then had 10 years in the NFL (my dad was his agent); my mother, Angela Larsen Bennett, swam competitively growing up in St. Croix, USVI; my maternal uncle, Lenny Larsen, played volleyball for the USVI men’s national team. 

From my generation: my younger brother, Bralyn Jr., played football at Elon University; my middle little brother, Malik played club volleyball and competed in esports at Coastal Carolina; my baby brother, Omari, is a rising sophomore at Campbell University and runs track; my cousins, Lauren and Bianca, played volleyball for Coker College; my cousins, Braydon and Brandon Jr., play football at Coastal Carolina and run track at limestone college.

When did your dreams of law school switch to competing in sports internationally?

In college at Tulane University. I majored in business management and the plan was to go to law school and then to become a sports agent or work in the front office of an NFL team. Sports were always going to be a part of my life! 

I did not go to law school and chose to pursue the opportunity to play beach volleyball internationally instead. I’m currently a realtor on a commercial real estate team working in developer services, in the process of wrapping up the sales for an amazing condo project downtown called Reflection.

What sports did you play as a child and at what age did you find volleyball was your passion?

I’ve participated in competitive sports since I was 6, when I started karate and then I picked up track in middle school. I started playing volleyball in the seventh grade because my uncle and his daughters played and I looked up to my big cousins. I was hooked immediately and spent all my time trying to figure out how to play as often and as long as I could. My plans worked as I went on to play indoor and beach volleyball at Tulane University.

Did you end up in St. Pete because of volleyball?

I did! I began playing for the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) women’s national beach volleyball team after college. My mother’s family is from St. Croix. I moved here for better training/prep for the 2016 Rio [Olympic] qualifiers. We were knocked out in round three of four of the continental cup qualifiers.

I moved to St. Pete to live and train with Pri Piantadosi-Lima of Optimum Beach. I coached and co-directed the indoor club (no longer in existence) and I still train with Optimum Beach to this day. Fun fact: Optimum Beach’s founder/owner Pri is now the head coach of USF’s women’s beach volleyball team and her wife is the head coach of indoor at Eckerd College, among other roles.

Who you are playing with now?

I still play for the US Virgin Islands and on the NORCECA Tour (a combination of the words North, Central America, and Caribbean Volleyball). I also play in smaller local and domestic tour stops like SSOVA, Rockstar, etc.

Where has your volleyball passion taken you?  

I’ve been to 12 countries for beach volleyball, all in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and once to Colombia. My favorite trip is always Cuba

What are the chances you could be involved in the Paris Olympics?

Greater than zero percent! We’re ranked 8th in the tournament of 12 and only one bid is given from this tournament. Depending on which country wins, I may be able to qualify with a top three finish.