The Sunlake Varsity Volleyball team recently had two consecutive wins against Land O’Lakes High School and Cypress Creek High School. Both of these occasions were extra notable because the Sunlake team swept their competitors. This means they beat them in three sets, which is cause for immense celebration among the members and the school as a whole.
Senior Elanah Hardeen, captain of the Sunlake Varsity volleyball team, has been playing volleyball for almost ten years now. Specifically for Sunlake, she has been playing since her freshman year and has held the outside hitter position that whole time. Her excitement was contagious as she shared, “…my favorite part of playing is definitely just being able to feed off everyone’s energy on the court.”
The team is a close-knit group that practices Monday through Thursday unless they have a game. With a commitment that large, it takes a diligent student to stay caught up on both their academics and continue excelling in sports. Elanah says she balances the two with time management “…by trying to get her homework done over the weekend.”
Dedication is necessary to stay present and pleasant while being tested with defining wins and losses at their twice-a-week games. But such is the life of an athlete, and Elanah loves it passionately. As a representation of the team, she says another one of her favorite parts is having “…the opportunity to score points…since I play in the front row.” This exhilarating experience keeps her going and allows the team to connect. Sports may be a foreign language to some reading this, but these varsity players are fluent in it; they are ready to dedicate time, effort, and love to volleyball. It translates into a team that works well together, with respect for their skilled captain, as clearly evidenced in those recent wins.
