The varsity volleyball team returned to action this year with a new coach and a goal to continue their 13-year streak of reaching the playoffs. The team returned key seniors and a few underclassmen with experience. Meet some of the players on this year’s varsity squad.

Olivia Parker, senior

What position do you primarily play? Outside hitter

What’s your number and why? 2. “It reminds me there is always someone better, so I have to work harder to be my best self everyday.”

What’s your favorite color? Butter yellow 

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Salata 

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far? “Three-day tournaments that are two hours away, very draining.”

Zoe Paez, senior

What position do you primarily play? Defensive specialist

What’s your number and why? 5. “It’s simple and tough.”

What’s your favorite color? Orange

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Alani

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far? “Playing through my back injury. It prevents me from serving and going all out, the adrenaline pushes me through but I feel it at the end of matches.”

What are you most excited about this year in volleyball with this year’s team? “Senior night!”

Abigail Greenwood, senior

What position do you primarily play? Middle

What’s your number and why? 10 “Because of Hinata from Haikyu and Emily Pavel.”

What’s your favorite color? Midnight blue

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Grilled Chicken Wrap

Gia Sambrooks, junior

What position do you primarily play? Pin hitter

What’s your number and why? 11. “I’ve never had it before and wanted a new number for a new season.”

What’s your favorite color? Light blue

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Sandwich

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far? “Probably the first tournament because everyone was getting to know how to play as a team.”

What are you most excited about volleyball with this year’s team? “To get closer and bond as a team.”

Zoey Smith, senior

What position do you primarily play? Setter

What’s your number and why? 7. “I’ve always been it.”

What’s your favorite color? Green

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Raisin’ Canes

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far? “Waking up early.”

What are you most excited about in volleyball with this year’s team? “Going to playoffs.”

Hadley Heineman, junior

What position do you primarily play? Outside Hitter

What’s your number and why? 13. “It’s a family number, my lucky number and it’s the number I have in all of my other sports.”

What’s your favorite color? Green or white

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Subway

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far? “Getting my body used to the long rallies and the long sets.”

What are you most excited about in volleyball with this year’s team? “I’m excited for these relationships I am going to gain with these girls by the end of the season.”

Elizabeth Milbrandt, sophomore

What position do you primarily play? Middle blocker

What’s your number and why? #4.

What’s your favorite color? Hot pink

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Chipotle

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far? “Probably conditioning because no one really likes it.”

What are you most excited about in volleyball with this year’s team? “Getting to know everyone more!”

Ava Etheridge, junior

What position do you primarily play? Libero

What’s your number? 1

What’s your favorite color? Pink

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Starbucks

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far and why? “Conditioning”

What are you most excited about this year in volleyball with this year’s team? “To grow as a team.”

Ella Hickman, junior

What position do you primarily play? Middle or right side

What’s your number? 12

What’s your favorite color? Teal

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Grilled Chicken Nuggets 

What was the toughest moment of the preseason so far and why? “The toughest moment was probably tryouts because we had to wake up super early and condition a ton.”

What are you most excited about this year in volleyball with this year’s team? “I’m most excited for the game against Kingwood because the student section is going to be full and the atmosphere to play in will be fun”