Soft squeaks of the varsity volleyball players’ shoes run back and forth on the wooden gym floor, as 12 new team members replace eight graduating seniors from the 2015 season.

“We lost many seniors coming into this season and so far, the girls have exceeded my expectations. The group is very talented and athletic,” varsity volleyball coach Caitlin Maloney said. “The sky really is the limit.”

With six returning players, four of them seniors, Maloney seeks to improve on enduring through games and playing through tough scenarios which resulted in previous years’ losses.  The team even grew closer to help them on and off the court bonding with a group chat and eating a team dinner once a week.

“We practice every day that we don’t have games; and even on Saturday we have tournaments that we go to, so that the team can bond in a game situation,” senior defensive specialist Sarah Wojcik said.

With the work ethic the team displays, the practices they commit to every day, and the years of training from seasons before, the varsity volleyball team sports an undefeated season as of press time. They seek to win back to back Districts championship titles for the second year in a row.

“I’m really excited for what this year has to bring and, as of right now, the new girls are keeping up well with the seniors,” Wojcik said. “I hope for future years to come that the volleyball team does this well.

Kennelly sets watchlist

Senior setter Payton Kennelly was nominated by her coaches for The Watchlist, which consists of seniors from each Michigan high school.

Those chosen are nominated and submitted by the Club Director from a Junior Volleyball Association Member Club. The players must be from the top two teams in the age division of the club.

“I’ve been playing high-level club since seventh grade, but I’ve really grown up my whole life playing,” Kennelly said. “Making The Watchlist made me realize that all of my hard work has paid off.”

Her stats include 6.5 assists per set on average, 1026 digs, 100 aces, 347 sets played, 2268 sets and 167 kills, as of press time.

Kennelly seeks to advance her volleyball career by b