Stone Memorial High School Head Volleyball Coach Brooklynn Buck is leaning on a highly competitive senior class to navigate the challenges of replacing experienced starters and pursuing a district championship.
Head Volleyball Coach Brooklynn Buck said the current group of seniors possesses the necessary experience to fill the void left by a departing class that had played at the varsity level since their freshman seasons. Buck said this specific group of athletes stands out as one of the most competitive units she has ever led during her coaching tenure.
“A lot of my upcoming seniors are also very experienced players as well,” Buck said. “They all have been in, you know, region games, since they were probably sophomores or juniors and, and so they’re a little more experienced and they’re very competitive. I definitely say that this senior class is one of my most competitive groups I’ve ever coached.”
Buck said the team focuses heavily on building trust through team bonding activities to improve communication on the court. Buck said the program utilizes team-oriented drills to ensure players develop genuine friendships rather than just teammate connections.
“We do a lot of things together, all the girls are very close, because if they are, if they trust each other off the court, they’re going to trust each other on the court,” Buck said. “So, they definitely do a lot of things together, everything is a very team-oriented drills are team-oriented, everything we do we try to keep the girls, together and, make sure that we’re not just making a connection just because we’re teammates, but it’s more of a friendship and all of that.”
Buck said she has observed a consistent desire for improvement from this roster since they were freshmen. Buck said the determination and competitive nature of the players are the primary factors that distinguish them from previous teams.
“Definitely their competitiveness,” Buck said. “Like I said, they are the most competitive group, that I’ve had in a while. And I’ve had them since they were freshmen so I’ve always kind of known that they were competitive and they just keep wanting more and more. So, just their determination and their competitiveness, to get things done I think definitely makes them stand out a little bit more.”
Buck said the offensive chemistry between Arden LaFiu and Zaylee Reagan is a significant asset because the pair has played together since the sixth grade. Buck said defensive players Mia Jones and Brooke Wilson also share a strong connection that allows them to anticipate each other’s movements during play.
“A lot of my seniors I think all of them are going to make a huge difference,” Buck said. “Offensively I think that Arden LaFiu and Zaylee Reagan are, they work very well together. They’re very close. They’ve been playing together since they were in, like, sixth grade, so they, the chemistry on the court with them two is remarkable. And then along with, my defense players, Mia Jones and Brooke Wilson, they, they make a very good team as well. Very good chemistry. They know what each other’s doing before they even do it. So I think those four are probably my, my key players that I think just their chemistry alone, it makes a big difference.”
Buck said student-athlete Kinsley Lyon represents the program’s values through her involvement in various extracurricular activities including rodeo and FFA. Buck said Lyon maintains a high level of commitment to her academics and community while participating in multiple organizations.
“I think that Kinsley Lyon, she is, she is involved in, like, anything that you could possibly think of,” Buck said. “She is one of the kindest people that I know. She gives 100% in absolutely everything that she does. She’s heavily involved in volleyball, in rodeo, and FFA, and all of that. So, definitely Kinsley.”
