Blocking a tough serve in the season opener, senior Angela Ruffin earns a point for her team. The SHS volleyball season began in June with conditioning. Their turnout for conditioning is one of the highest of all of the fall sports. During summer conditioning the team is able to get to know the coaches, get into shape, and get ready for tryouts.

Team captains Alexis Grannen, 11, sets the ball up for a spike. Other captains include Cora Bennett, 12, and Megan Hart, 12. They have lead the team through a tough schedule.

One of the team’s strongest players, Fanta Kouyate, 12, leaps to block a shot. Kouyate is looking to be recruited from many teams across the nation to play at the collegiate level. Some of the schools include Akron, Mercyhurst and Western Nebraska.

Serving the ball is junior Maddy Bauder. Bauder is the team’s libero. She wears a different jersey than the rest of the team. A libero’s specialty is responding to serves and hits which come close to the ground.

Outside hitter Makayla Stover, 11, prepares for a spike against Hamilton. Stover will be one of the team’s leaders next year when the seniors graduate. “I’m definitely looking forward to next season. There’s a lot of improvements that can be made and we have a lot of talent from JV coming up, so with hard work and focus I think we can do well next year. It’s really exciting to have so much potential and see what our we can do with it,” Stover said.