PCHS Bulletin - Giosiana Carleton
Photo - Chloe Davis
The whistles are blowing, and you hear people cheering in the stands. Everyone is hyped up and they're about to win the game. They hit the ball and Spike! They make the winning shot and the crowd goes wild.
The Parrish Bulls Varsity Volleyball team participated in a two-day tournament Sept. 4-5. They won three of five matches bringing their current record to 5-5. Their tournament victories were 2-0 against Sarasota Christian, DeSoto County, and Saint Stephen's Episcopal respectively.
Varsity's additional victories came from their regular season schedule against Port Charlotte on August 19 and Southeast August 25, each with a 3-0 score.
Senior Varsity player Khyler Reed is committed to play D1 volleyball at Western Carolina University. The college has been watching her play throughout high school. She expressed her gratitude to her teammates, coaches, and family in a post last October when announcing her verbal commitment.
She also spoke about the sacrifices she made to reach the D1 level in a recent interview.
“A lot of my free time goes toward training, traveling, and staying on top of school...I’ve gone through the recruiting process with that pushing me to be better and knowing that those sacrifices have helped me to where I am today,” said Reed.
The players on all three teams (Freshman, JV, and Varsity) are working hard on and off the court. It is challenging to balance the demands of high school and a competitive sport.
Freshman Brooke Logan said, “I have practice most days, so when I get home, I make sure I get my homework done and gets a good night's rest.” Managing schoolwork and games is hard at times but is worth it for them.
Head Coach Danielle Stevenson works hard for the team to make sure that they are confident and ready to win. She said, “Success comes from consistent preparation, attention to detail, and viewing mistakes as learning opportunities rather than setbacks.”
Freshman Avery Byer is working to follow Stevenson’s coaching philosophy. She reflected on her time playing and said, “I remember where I was in the past, and that helps me overcome obstacles.” Being on a team can be challenging for most people but certain things help them overcome them.
Parrish Volleyball won back-to-back academic state championships in the Fall of 2024 and 2025. In addition to their competition schedule, they are striving to keep their high GPA and go after a third academic championship.