In just 18 months, Zeevah Innes Pocock has gone from picking up a volleyball for the first time to being named Best Ladies Blocker at South Africa’s premier club event, a feat that left the volleyball community in awe.

The Quantum Dragons Ladies finished as silver medallists at the National Club Championships in September 2025, but it was Zeevah’s breakout performance that stole the spotlight.

The rising star was honoured with the Best Blocker award, an extraordinary achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that she had celebrated her 16th birthday only the day before the final.

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“It’s honestly really exciting. I didn’t expect to be achieving this much so soon,” Zeevah said. “I’ve only been playing for about 18 months, so being recognised at this level still feels a bit surreal.”

Standing 1.83m tall with a jump reach of 2.95m, Zeevah’s physicality and timing have made her one of the most feared defenders in the country. “I just focus on enjoying the game and bringing energy to the team. That helps me play my best.”

Zeevah’s rise might seem meteoric, but volleyball runs deep in her DNA. Her father, Colin, represented South Africa in beach volleyball at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, while her mother, Kirsten, captained the national women’s indoor volleyball team for several years.

“It’s really special that I get to play the same sport my mom and dad played. It’s something we share as a family, and it just feels like volleyball is part of my DNA.”

Colin said his daughter’s rapid development has been nothing short of astonishing. “The speed at which she’s progressed has been phenomenal. Watching her be named Best Blocker at a National Senior Club Championship at just 16 is almost hard to comprehend. She’s only been playing for 18 months, yet she has this natural instinct and composure that you just can’t teach.”

While her physical ability is impressive, what truly sets Zeevah apart is her attitude. “She’s a beautiful mix of competitiveness and kindness,” Colin added. “Win or lose, she’s always the first to congratulate others. Everyone seems to love her she’s like a pretty butterfly that floats from person to person, bringing a bit of joy wherever she goes.”

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Already nominated by the Gauteng Volleyball Union for possible selection to Volleyball South Africa’s Junior National Team for the 2025 African Youth Games in Angola, Zeevah’s name is one that national selectors are watching closely. And she’s not stopping there.

“I’d love to play college volleyball in the US one day and eventually represent South Africa at the Olympics. That’s the dream.”

Her father beams when talking about their special bond, one that extends beyond sport. “My favourite moment is when she smashes a ball and then glances up to see if I saw it and I always do,” Colin said.

“Then after the game, she runs up and jumps into my arms. At 16, that’s rare. We’ve got a special bond I call her my ‘twinsy’, because she’s so much like me at her age.”

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