Photo by Mary Evans
By Keelen Landrum
The 2022 high school volleyball season is well under way, and members of the Willow School’s team are ready to be the first to represent the school under its new name.
With eight former players graduating in May of 2022, the head coach leaving the same month, and the school undergoing an official name change just two months later, the Girls’ Volleyball team had to get used to a great deal of change very quickly.
“I guess I feel like we’re setting a precedent for the future players of Willow,” team veteran, senior Sydni Sanders, said.
Eighth graders Maleah Leal and Marley Russell said, “It feels like I have older girls watching over me and protecting me.”
There’s a clear sense of unity among the team members. Russell said she doesn’t feel excluded as an onboarding eighth grader because everyone is so sweet, and she feels welcomed. Being part of a team can sometimes be stressful, but these girls don’t have that problem because of the friendships formed.
This team spends five days a week together, meaning there is a good deal of time for team chemistry to grow. Many team events are being planned, starting with the big-little sisters’ reveal, a tradition that continued for many years among this team’s upper and lower classmen. “I’m proud to be a part of something that helps form lifelong friendships,” junior Keelen Landrum said.
And though this may be the girls’ volleyball team, senior Jacob Keelen can speak for the amount of team inclusivity there is. “Being on the volleyball team has been more than a humbling experience,” Jacob Keelen said. “Coming into it older but more inexperienced allowed me to push myself to be better. Working hard and staying consistent put me on a varsity team when I could barely pass a ball one year ago.” Exclusion is not a problem, even with the gender barrier, because, he says, “It feels more than inclusive, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
The team opened the season with a loss against McGehee High School but feels prepared for the upcoming matches. Senior Annisha Mack said, “ I’m confident in the abilities of this team.” Mack believes the team can make it to the playoffs again, even under different leadership and with new players. Last year’s season held an 11-9 record bringing the team up to the first round of playoffs.
With a total of 15 games this season, eight being home games, the team is ready to represent the school by doing what they do best. And with hopes to have support in the stands from their peers, members of the Willow School’s girls’ volleyball team are ready to help represent the school with a positive attitude. Don’t forget to go out and support your teams. Go, Lions!
