A chance to make great friends, compete with other peers, and grow closer to God; welcome to the varsity volleyball team. The ability to dive for the ball and know that dedication and hard work spur the team on to success, providing support for each other, teaching the girls’ team spirit and motivating them to encourage each other on and off the court.

“I think what I love about this team is that you can see they have more than a love for the sport,” Kacey Jensen, varsity coach, said. “They have a great love for Christ and for each other. It’s really amazing.” This is Jensen’s first year coaching on campus.

Jensen recently moved to the central valley from British Columbia, Canada. After graduating from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1981, she married the same year. Jensen coached the senior girls volleyball team, at Highroad Academy in Chilliwack, British Columbia, where they beat all the other teams to win the Provincial award. Her love for coaching and the great Christian atmosphere brought her to our campus this year. Jensen has a positive outlook on the year.

“I can see the team starting to gel,” Jensen said. “I think they’ll do exceptionally well, of course, as a footnote, I haven’t seen the competition.”

According to Jensen, Sara Weins, ’04, leads the team, on and off the court with motivation and encouragement.

“She’s an extremely hard worker,” Jensen said, “She has great expectations from herself. She’s definitely a verbal motivator, a definite leader on the court.”

Weins too, looks forward to the new team’s potential this year.

“I’m really excited to see what this team will do this season,” Weins, ’04, said. “We have acquired new teammates and a new coach so the veterans are eager to see what this team can accomplish. It seems like so far the team has gradually come together on the court and through our friendships.”

Weins has been playing volleyball since 7th grade. Her volleyball career started with the desire to play sports throughout the school year and the help of Coach Larry Orrender. To stay in shape Weins continues to play sports throughout the school year and works out at the gym.

Weins is excited about the season because the team has bonded well and she wants to see what they are capable of this year.

The girls’ first competition was at the Caruthers Tournament, Sept. 3-6. The girls beat Fowler, Dinuba, and Washington Union on Sept. 3 but lost to Caruthers on Sept. 6 and finished 7th in the 16-team tournament. The first home game will be Sept. 9 against Coast Union. They are also scheduled to play at Mission Prep on Sept. 12.