4 minute read
Sports
GREENHILL FRESHMAN FINDS HOME IN THE MIDDLE
Gillen-Malveaux chosen for USA Volleyball Development Program
Advertisement
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Zoe Gillen-Malveaux stands out in more ways than one. e 6-foot-3 freshman already is taller than all of her Greenhill School volleyball teammates, and she’s made an immediate impact as an intimidating middle blocker.
In volleyball, being the tallest player on the court has obvious advantages. Off the court, that’s not always the case. As a young girl, sometimes you’d rather just fit in.
“I always had mixed emotions about being tall,” Gillen-Malveaux said. “I was sometimes insecure, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more comfortable about my height.”
So, volleyball has been a natural fit, both physically and psychologically. Gillen-Malveaux played lacrosse when she was little, but she remembers the introduction to her new sport.
“I saw a college volleyball game, and I saw everyone with the same build as me,” she said. “Everyone was really tall like me.”
Gillen-Malveaux found a competitive club team around the start of fifth grade and has never looked back.
“I was able to play at a really good club and get really good coaches,” she said. “I was able to put in the time and the effort and improve.”
Last summer, she was chosen for the Greenhill freshman Zoe Gillen-Malveaux has become one of the top blockers in the SPC this season. (PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY) USA Volleyball National Team Development Program, which identifies and trains prospects to represent the United States in future international competitions. at enabled Gillen-Malveaux to train alongside other top players for a week in July in Anaheim, California, and a September weekend in Orlando. e adjustment to varsity has been seamless, even though Gillen-Malveaux plays with and against girls up to three years older. “She has adjusted well. Sometimes she gets those big eyes. Sometimes the game slows down for her to focus a little more,” said Greenhill Everyone was head coach Tareally tall like me. tiane Deibert. “In the middle, there’s Zoe Gillen-Malveaux so much to think about and so little time to react. Playing with older players will be beneficial for her.” Gillen-Malveaux and fellow freshman Campbell Sims have formed a promising combination at the net for the Hornets, who will seek their first SPC championship since 2016 at the conference tournament beginning Nov. 4 in Dallas. “It challenges my game. I have to adjust and play well against girls with more experience,” Gillen-Malveaux said. “We have a really good group of girls chemistry-wise and skill-wise. On the court, that really helps us succeed.”
Late Bloomer Has Become a Hard-Hitter for Eagles ESD defensive end fields scholarship offers from major programs
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Chase Kennedy will graduate from the Episcopal School of Dallas next spring with a scholarship to a major college football program and a legacy as one of the top defensive linemen in school history.
But his arrival on the ESD football team came with considerably less fanfare.
He decided to try football on an impulsive whim while playing video games with a friend during the summer before his sophomore year.
e classmate told him he was ready for the first day of practice the following Monday. Kennedy — who played football growing up but concentrated chiefly on basketball — decided he would show up, too.
As promised, Kennedy woke up early and headed to the field. e coaches asked him what position he wanted to play. “I like defense a lot,” was the answer. Given his frame, that put him at defensive end.
Chase Kennedy (7), playing both defensive end and running back this season, hopes to lead ESD to its first
SPC football title since 2014. (PHOTOS: CADE HAMNER)
“He went around our best tackle like he wasn’t even there,” said ESD head coach Richard Williams. “He’s a natural athlete. He could play almost any position he wants to. His I.Q. for the game is extremely high.”
He hails from an athletic family, primarily on the hardwood. His grandfather is the late Eugene “Goo” Kennedy, a former standout at TCU who went on to a seven-year professional career in the 1970s. His mother, Gina, also played basketball.
However, after turning some heads during his sophomore season, Kennedy said football became more of a priority.
“ e coaches told me I had the ability to go to the next level,” Kennedy said.
The 2020 campaign was abbreviated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, although he still gained exposure at camps last summer. is season has been a whirlwind, with Kennedy usually playing for the Eagles on Friday nights — even adding some ball-carrying duties to his usual pass rushing and run-stuffing on defense — then attending a college game on Saturday.
He still plays basketball, too, both for ESD and for his club team in the summer, as his busy schedule permits. And yes, he’s even kept up his grades.
Kennedy said he hopes to announce his college commitment during the season before signing in November, all while helping the Eagles chase an SPC title.
“It can be stressful,” Kennedy said of the recruiting process, “but at the same time, you’re grateful for it because of all the love.”
