Senior, Ella Bryant, is a long-timer at St. Luke’s! She has been cheering on the Wildcats since preschool. Ella began playing volleyball in the 1st grade and has been an important part of St. Luke’s volleyball team since 8th grade.

Ella prepares herself with a pregame ritual by listening to “All I Do Is Win,” to get pumped up and ready for the matches ahead. She has the experience to know that the harder you work, the harder it is to lose. She often reminds herself “there is always someone working harder than you” to push herself to work harder than ever before.

One of her all-time favorite traditions that she looks forward to is the girls varsity volleyball team’s exciting and spirited annual beach retreat for the purpose of bonding and uniting as a team. A team above all, and above all a team!

One of Ella’s many accomplishments has been her invitation to participate as a volleyball All-Star this past summer. Her team competed against other All-Star volleyball players made up of different teams in the region. Ella’s team, The South, won the overall championship! She says “it was such a great experience and amazing to meet other people who love the sport just as much as I do. And, I also enjoyed that my St. Luke’s Coach, Coach Donald, was asked to coach The South’s All-Star Team.”

The will to win is not nearly so important as the will to prepare to win and we know Ella has what it takes to make her senior year successful! We will be cheering for Ella loud and proud this season! We are proud of you and can’t wait to see where your volleyball journey takes you!

Allie Champagne is starting her senior year of volleyball after being on the court for the past 10-years. Her favorite part of being on the St. Luke’s volleyball team is how everyone pushes each other and supports each other in all that they do. She also loves how her teammates make practice fun by laughing at their mistakes and bonding as a team. Allie’s favorite volleyball team tradition is praying together, as a team, before each game.

Coach Donald is Allie’s favorite coach because she supports every one of her players and also makes sure they do well in school before they can get on the court. Coach Donald works the team hard, but Allie knows it isn’t the hours you put in, but what you put in the hours!

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." is a quote Allie says inspires her in every day life. She says that her personal goal for volleyball is, “to work as hard as I can and to be a great leader.”

Volleyball has taught Allie so many life lessons and skills that she will carry with her beyond the court. The sport has taught her about determination, discipline, self-sacrifice, time management, working under pressure, the importance of academics before athletics, and how to strive to do her best. Allie plans to carry all of the lessons she has learned with her for her entire life. Don’t ever forget….. hustle, hit, and never quit!

Maddie Hurt has been playing volleyball since elementary school. She loves playing volleyball with her team because it keeps her active, she enjoys the environment, and she loves to cheer on her team when they are competing.

Maddie says that playing volleyball has affected her on and off the court. She has learned to be open and listen to everyone’s ideas as well as work through hard situations with her teammates so she can be a great team captain. Volleyball has also helped Maddie gain time management skills in order to balance her academics and athletics. Her personal goal for the sport is to always have a good spirit and stay positive no matter what.

Maddie plans to carry all of the lessons she has learned in volleyball with her into college and throughout the rest of her life. We’re cheering for you, Maddie!