Despite volleyball being a highly competitive sport, Ariyanna Johnson (11) has made the varsity team all three years of her high school career. This year, she started as a middle and has already been a central contributor, especially against two of their biggest competitors; Everett and Waverly.  

“We’ve usually beaten Waverly in the past years I’ve been here,” Johnson said. “But it’s always one of our toughest games of the season.”

Usually, the team experiences a very close match, fighting for every ball until the last serve. This year was no different. Johnson and the rest of the team came up short in a close battle in the first set but came back and won three decisive sets in a row. Johnson has noticed that support from her teammates, especially during these matches, is crucial. 

Johnson has noticed the positive impact of having the student section show up, no matter the size. During the Waverly game, Johnson felt happy when she noticed some students showing up to support the team.

“During the game, we had a small student section but it was nice to at least have some show up.” Johnson said. “It makes you feel good to know that people are there and that they support us.”