With every dig, set, and spike, the Pleasant Valley High School Girls Volleyball teams are showing they aren’t just playing the game, they’re defining it. Our freshman, JV, and varsity teams are starting off strong, showing their dominance on and off the court. The Vikings have returned with experienced seniors and hungry underclassmen with one goal in common: to win.
Kobi Sanchez: Setting the Standard
When sophomore Kobi Sanchez steps on the court, she’s the one to beat. Sanchez, starting on Varsity since her freshman year, holds the high standard of a determined Viking! Her impressive resilience and leadership skills go to show why she’s a key player on the Girls Varsity Volleyball team. Even with her many successes, Sanchez still strives for more. “I’m motivated to compete and show up every day because I love the sport and want to improve. Overall just wanting to become the best athlete I possibly can be,” Sanchez said, emphasizing her drive to improve. Sanchez recalled one of her favorite moments, saying that, “One of the accomplishments we’re most proud of is beating Windsor High School at a tournament in five sets.” When asked what she finds most admirable about her teammates, she praises them by saying, “I admire how much we are all there for each other on and off the court.” Sanchez first discovered her love for volleyball by playing casually at the beach with friends and later on playing beach volleyball at the Chico Racket Club with J.J., also known as Mr. Mitchell, the Girls Varsity Volleyball coach. “I just progressed and now play with J.J. for PV Girls Varsity Volleyball,” Sanchez adds.
Aubrey Bryant: More Than Just a Sport
Sophomore Aubrey Bryant is actively taking volleyball to a deeper meaning than just playing the sport. Being Bryant’s second year playing Girls Volleyball at Pleasant Valley, she has found that volleyball is more than just a sport to her. “Volleyball has always been something I can do to take my mind off something and leave it behind me. When I would get frustrated or upset about something, I would go outside and serve a couple of balls or pass to myself. It helped me overcome a lot of things in my life.” Throughout the years, tons of unforgettable memories and team bonds have been cemented. Bryant recalls, “My favorite game moment was last year when we were playing Chico High. It was game point and Lydia Petty was serving. She made an ace, and I remember all of us on and off the court running to go celebrate our win against Chico.” Like many high school athletes, Bryant knows that balancing homework and athletics makes becoming unmotivated easy. Many crumble when the sudden pressure is on. However, Bryant has found a way to surpass that. “Volleyball is mostly a mental game, and I have had trouble with making a bad pass or not making my serve in and letting it define me. However, I have gotten better at telling myself it’s okay to make mistakes, and it only makes me a better player at the end of the day,” she shares.
Sophia Bussey: Leading with Positivity
On the JV Girls Volleyball team, Sophia Bussey, a sophomore at Pleasant Valley, is making her mark on and off the court. Bussey, a dual athlete participating in Soccer and Volleyball, is showing true athleticism within her stellar performance. It’s not only her performance that excels but her uplifting attitude toward her team. “We celebrate everything, even if it was off-speed or weird. We check in, celebrate, and then focus on the next point,” she explains. Like every great athlete, Bussey shares the ability to push forward and stay determined despite obstacles that arise. “The biggest challenge we’ve faced is keeping the energy up. Occasionally when something goes wrong, it’s hard not to get in your head. So, having a poker face and refraining from looking somber on the court is super important, and I’ve seen so much growth with that lately,” she shares. For most athletes, it’s hard to think positively when things don’t go the way planned. However, Bussey keeps raising the standard. Despite losses, her ability to think positively separates her from the average athlete. She smiled when she recalled the moment when playing Chico High. “I’d say the highlight of this year was playing Chico for the first time. Even though we lost the game, it fired us up and we played the best we had all season. I look forward to future matches as we just keep growing, and I’m confident we’ll beat them on the 23rd.” Despite being an outstanding athlete, she understands that she needs her team to back her up. A key component of chemistry in a team is trust, and Bussey values that. “I feel like this year our team relies most on trust because even if we’re not feeling the best or playing our best, everybody trusts the teammate next to them. That helps us focus and create more opportunities to score,” Bussey elaborates.
Viking Spirit
This year, Pleasant Valley’s Girls Volleyball is making their mark on and off the court. Their impressive athleticism, courage, and resilience are what make them the definition of a determined Viking!
