Nia McGhee
Class of 2025
Kenwood Academy
Chicago, IL
truly does matter.
I wanted so badly to prove to my coach and the older girls on the team that I deserved to be on the court, so whenever I had the time, I was outside my house bumping and passing the ball with my mom and brother. The next year, I had a starting position for most of the season.
My mother taught me to play volleyball in the summer before fifth grade. I tried out for my schools’ team that year, and made the team. Its been a rollercoaster ever since. Each year I did more and more volleyball. In sixth grade I played for my school and played for The Chicago Park District. My first year playing for The Park District, I was one of the youngest players on the team— so, I had a little amount of playing time. Like very little! That was the year I realized that working towards what you want to prove
The next year I played volleyball for my school, for The Park District, and it was my first year playing club volleyball. The coaches wanted me to be a setter for my team. It was a whole new ball game having a setter position that you need to excel in. It required double the work but setting gave me as much happiness as it gave me frustration. Being a setter meant being a leader for the team, a role I admittedly was not ready for. It was so hard but rewarding when I was able to lead my team and we won and loss as a
team. To this day, I have yet to figure out how to be a leader, but with my mentors and coaches it gets easier.
Fast forward to this year. This year was my first year on my school’s varsity team. I was one of three sophomores that made the varsity team. I had really high expectations because we had twelve veteran seniors, three veteran juniors, and us three sophomores that played together on JV and one freshman. I felt, as though, we had a good team and thought we were being introduced to a family. Unfortunately, it turned out to be very underwhelming in some respects. I was called on to play multiple positions. My primary position was setter, but our team already had two veteran setters– One senior and one junior. Being able to bounce back after that helped me mentally and I learned a lot about my relationship with
volleyball.
I have such a love/hate relationship with volleyball— because as much joy as this sport gives me, it also brings me frustration. It brings tears, it brings aches, but at the end of each practice, each tournament, each season, I miss the euphoria playing gives me. As much as I complain about the sport, I still have a raw love for it. Having a coach that simply understands me and teammates that encourages me through my struggles and to just laugh and have fun and be with is something I will always be grateful for.Through it all, they have helped me refocus on my goals to play D1 volleyball.
Italya carter
Class of 2025
Estrella Foothills High School
Goodyear, Az The club season ended June 26th and High School open gym started a week ago. I couldn’t waste any time getting back in front of Varsity Head Coach, Jennifer Gonzales. This year I was determined to make varsity which starts with summer workouts. I attended some college showcases over the summer, however consistently showing up to open gym and weight training shows commitment to the Estrella Foothills volleyball program.
One week until tryouts there are 80 girls in open gym, and I am one of six setters. Last year (my freshman year), I made the Junior Varsity team and was co-captain and starting setter. I improved my defense in the off season and
was determined to show my growth. This year my goals were to make varsity, convince coach to run the 6-2 offense, and win the state championship. Coach preferred the 5-1 but running a 6-2 would strengthen our defense and diversify our offense. Tryouts ended, and I made varsity. In addition, Coach was running the 6-2 and I finally get to play in the Wolves’ Classic Tournament. This is a tournament our school host over two days in early September. Since I was 11 years old, I worked as a scorekeeper/line judge at Wolves Classic, now at age 14 I get to play.
The season begins with coach asking us to write down our team goal, unanimously we wanted to win the state championship. We win our home opener in a clean sweep and move into Championship
game of Wolves Classic, and we are 5-0 playing against 5A Verrado High School. Estrella Foothills lose 21.This becomes our only lost all season. “You will have to be the most unselfish players to win state championship” said Coach Jenn as we clinched the Desert West region of 4A for the fifth time in a row. We entered the
region Honorable Mention. It hasbeen an honor to play with 11 seniors, 2 juniors, and 1 freshman making school history (33-1) I learned to set goals, write them down, and conquer them.
Cailyn Hollinquest
Class of 2024
my lack of coordination. Then 2020 happened to that girl with two left feet. My favorite club volleyball season with Coach April at A5 Gwinnett halted due to Covid. School was cancelled. Activities were cancelled. And worst of all volleyball season was cancelled. I began to grasp what I missed most. That’s when I realized that I fell in love with volleyball “Absence does make the heart grow fonder”.
playoffs ranked #4 and beat the #2 in the semi-finals on the road in a hostile environment. On November 12th at the AZ Veterans Coliseum, Estrella Foothills High School becomes 4A State Champions winning 3-1. I played my best game all season, 31 assists, 12 serves, and 14 digs. I was named
North Gwinnett HS Suwanee, GA THE GIRL WITH TWO LEFT FEET
I was the Girl who had no coordination. My coaches said I had “Two Left Feet.” I was the girl that everyone thought was so sweet but would never be good at volleyball because of
respected coach in the area. He spent time teaching me skills and movement.
I FOUND MY RIGHT FOOT! I made starter on the North Gwinnett High School (NG) 7A Varsity volleyball team. Finally, my hard work paid off; I was a 6-rotation player. We had an extraordinary season! We ended our season with the All-Time Best Record in North Gwinnett’s history, 42-2! Coach Stinson trained us like Champions daily. Throughout our season we maintained an undefeated record until a malignant day when we played everyone’s competition in Georgia…Buford. Regrettably, we played them again in the FINAL FOUR getting our second loss as they became State Champions. Regardless of those losses we accomplished so much as a team winning several tournaments and becoming Region Champions. I left
this season knowing that because I decided to work hard in 2020, I was able to say that I contributed to this NG record. I was able to achieve so much this season. Throughout the season I grinded hard while working for myself and my team. I pushed myself, I stretched myself, I knew that I wanted to be the best I could be…and it worked. I made 1st Team All-Region, 2nd Team All-County, and recently 3rd Team All-County for the Gwinnett Daily Post. I was recognized for my hard work because I didn’t give up and I FOUND MY RIGHT FOOT!
