Ostrander bumps up leaderboards

Ella Aniel

MINE! Prepared for impact, sophomore varsity volleyball player and libero Kayla Ostrander [pictured on the right] has her arms out in a bump position ready to receive. Ostrander and her teammates lost their home game against Marysville high school. “She’s always next to me on the court when I need her for support,” sophomore varsity volleyball player Gina Fedrigo said.

Climbing up the ranks, sophomore varsity volleyball player Kayla Ostrander leads with 409 digs, 35 aces, 34 assists and 1st in the state for digs.

“I’m pretty confident when I’m out there playing,” Ostrander said. “I know what I’m doing because I’ve been doing this for a while.”

Ostrander began playing volleyball at six years old, following in her older sister’s footsteps. When she began playing club volleyball; she was inspired by her old club volleyball coach to play better.

“My old club coach [Jess Mruzik] inspired me to be better and helped me focus on the positive things when I feel mentally down,” she said. “She gives great feedback and she was a really good player.”

As this is her first year on varsity volleyball, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Alongside her school volleyball career, Ostrander plays club volleyball. Her club volleyball team, Legacy Volleyball Club, previously placed first in the country. Ostrander’s teammates gain her trust.

“It feels really good to play with someone I trust on the court,” sophomore varsity volleyball player Gina Fedrigo said. “She’s very competitive and she always pushes people to do their best all of the time.”

With her competitiveness, Ostrander plans on attending Michigan State University to play as a libero. 

“I try not to feel stressed. I tell myself I know I can finish all of my work,“ she said. “I try to finish all of my work whenever I get it or I do it while traveling in a car or plane [while playing volleyball].”

Finishing her work is one of the things Ostrander is stressed about. She also needs to balance friends, school and two different volleyball teams. Ostrander still stays on top of her schedule.

“My coaches push me to be better because they know I can pursue good things in the future,” Ostrander said. “Making it onto my club team was my most valuable achievement.”