For senior Kinzi Tilton and her club volleyball team, the concept of generic icebreakers and preseason get-to-know-you’s is unknown.
Rather, her close-knit group of teammates delight themselves on an annual trip to camp where they partake in one highly anticipated tradition:
“For club volleyball, [the team] goes to Camp Henry every year in December for a preseason bonding trip,” Kinzi said. “It’s around two nights. And every time we make a team dance and a lip sync. The lip sync is always the best.”
Being a volleyball player since her fifth-grade year, Kinzi is no stranger to the community and customs that come with the sport. As a competitor under the Ranger name since her freshman year, and, dually, a club competitor with Rise Academy, the ins and outs of the game have, over time, become second nature to her. Recently, she was named one of three captains on the Varsity volleyball team, an achievement that she has been striving towards with every ounce of effort she leaves on the court.
“When I was named captain, I was excited, and I was really happy that all my teammates see me that way,” said Kinzi, who plays the position of libero. “[The other captains and I] know how each other works on the court, and [we have] lots of history of volleyball and chemistry, communication, and leadership.”
Outside of the walls of FHC, Kinzi’s club team has quickly cemented itself as the forefront of her schedule over the years. While her regular school season is relatively shorter, her experience on her club team has proved to be a more considerable commitment with its own form of gameplay.
“I miss around ten days of school because we play on school days sometimes, and we travel all over different states,” Kinzi said. “[Club volleyball] is definitely time-consuming. And the general play of volleyball and the culture of the game is different [from school].”
As a senior and a captain, Kinzi has taken on a new responsibility of leadership that she uses to help encourage the rest of her teammates. Now one of the more experienced players on her team, Kinzi has been able to lift the spirits of her teammates amidst heated moments by instilling a foundation of dedication and determination.
“I always say ‘It’s all worth it in the end. Work now,’ and if it’s a tough game, then pull yourself together and just do what you know,” Kinzi said. “And try not to be an introvert; get out of your comfort zone, talk, and just be yourself.”
Following past seasons of trial and tribulation, Kinzi has high hopes for her final season as a Ranger. She is eager to see all the benefits her communicative team will reap this season and to take advantage of her senior year and branch out of her comfort zone, salvaging every moment that comes ahead.
“I really want to win districts because we didn’t get the chance to win last year,” Kinzi said. “For me, I want to have the best serve-receive of any of my years of volleyball. And I’m also excited for football games, and getting closer with every friend group, and not just having only one little friend group.”
While she is not yet positive about where she will find herself after high school, she is planning on staying in Michigan for education and possibly continuing her volleyball career on a university club team. Regardless of where her path leads her in the coming years, she aspires to salvage every moment and opportunity she is granted with her cumulative year.
“Don’t take the fun of the sport for granted,” Kinzi said. “Have fun and play hard.”
