Aussies Abroad #17 – Trent O’Dea
In this installment of Aussies Abroad, Volleyball Australia caught up with Trent O’Dea who is in his 12th season abroad, now playing for OKman Savings Bank Club in South Korea.
“I grew up in Melbourne Australia and I was the first person in my family to start playing volleyball,” O’Dea said.
“It started at my high school when one of the teachers came around advertising it to all the new year 7’s and myself and a couple of friends decided to try it out.
“After starting in high school, I joined Melbourne University Renegades state league team when I was in year 9 and from there I played for a few years for school and state league, slowly working my way up the divisions as I got older.
“I also played for the Victorian state team 3 times, despite trying out 9 different times in total.
“I debuted in Australia Volleyball League (AVL) when I was in year 10 which was 2010 and played from there until 2013 when I was asked to go and join the squad at the AIS after that AVL season.
“From there I joined the national team program and worked my way up from the B team to where I am today and I debuted in the senior team in 2017.”
Currently a middle blocker, Trent’s transition to playing abroad happened suddenly but was made easier by some fellow Aussies.
“One of the proudest moments in my volleyball career so far would have to be getting the silver medal at Asian championships with the national team in 2018,” he said.
“It’s a great feeling to stand on the podium for your national team.
“Now, I am currently in my 12th season abroad playing at the OKman Savings Bank Club in South Korea.
“I have always been a competitive person and I believe that’s what has driven me to want to compete internationally.
“At first, it was a little bit uncertain, I was kind of thrown in the deep end suddenly because I was at a national team tournament and planned on going back to Australia, however, with 1 week to go before we returned a contract in Sweden popped up for me and I ended up heading straight there instead.
“I was lucky enough to be on the same team as some other Australians which made the transition easier.
“Experiencing different cultures and creating relationships and friends around the world is a very special thing that not many people have the opportunity to do, so I consider myself very lucky.”
When he’s off the court himself, Trent is very passionate about working with the next generation of volleyballers as well as continuing his knowledge in the world of physiotherapy.
“I am interested in passing on all the knowledge from the long career I have had so far, which I currently already do as one of the coaches for BALA Academy, which is a volleyball academy for athletes in Queensland that my wife, Caitlin Bettenay, and her family started,” he said.
“I think it is important to pass on what I have learnt and try to make volleyball in Australia stronger in the future and as a player I still have Olympic aspirations as it is the only major tournament I have not had the privilege to compete in.
“Outside of volleyball I have completed my Bachelors in Sports and exercise science, which I can use to get into a masters of physiotherapy.
“However, I can’t start the masters until I am back in Australia and have retired from my volleyball career.
“I have always liked hands-on and sporty subjects so I feel that physiotherapy is a great mix of those and something that I would enjoy as a career after volleyball.
“To any young athletes out there, I would tell them to make sure they keep loving the game.
“It is great to strive for excellence and achieve the highest level possible but it is important to do that because of your joy for the game, if you only do it to be the best it will be quite hard to succeed and you will likely burn out.”
