Full commitment: Mount Si volleyball's seniors working hard to seek state goal

The Mount Si volleyball team has long earned its own successes: consecutive state appearances and big league honors over the last several years. Team captains Lauren Smith and Lexi Read, readying for the 2012 season, know all about the effort that goes into those accomplishments.

"It's a huge commitment," says Read. "If you're on this court, tou have to commit to this program. You have to commit to school. You have to be a leader.

To Read, being a Wildcat volleyball player "means you're dedicated and ready to work hard. You do whatever you have to do to be the best you can be, the best for your team."

"It takes more than just coming to practice," Smith says. "It's that balance between family, friends, school and volleyball."

Both captains have played all three prior years under head coach Bonnie Foote.

"I think we're ready," says Read, an experienced club player with Sabotage of Sammamish.

"We all know how to be good leaders," Smith says. "We know how to step up and show these younger girls how to play."

Smith's a goal setter.

"We would love to be league champs again," she says. "Four years in a row"—to state—"would be an awesome thing for a team to achieve."

Smith knows that a state title is a major deal—"it's everyone's big goal, but personally, that's where we want to be where we see we can be."

To get there, it takes more than talent, she adds.

"It takes team commitment, a whole program coming together. It takes chemistry, it definitely takes time, and good coaching. We definitely have that in this program."

Read loves the competitive rush, while Smith plays for the energy of the game.

"It's a great environment," she says. "It's taught me a lot as a person and as a player. I think it's going to carry on for the rest of my life."

 

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