By Alexandra Dalton
Staff Writer

The volleyball program at Coppell High School is known for its intense workouts, back-to-back state championship status and its select members of the varsity team. This year, freshman libero Lauren Lee was called up to start her varsity chapter with Coppell volleyball.

“I worked really hard on JV and that’s why she moved me up. Not many freshman get this chance,” Lee said.

Despite her age, Lee is ready to prove herself at the highest level in high school.

“I never thought that this was going to happen, I was expecting to be put on a freshman team, or maybe make JV and I made JV. I never thought I would get moved up,” Lee said. “I play at the number one club in the nation, and that is [Texas Advantage Volleyball Club] and I practiced with them and they are a really good club. I trained with them all summer.”

At first, Lee was struggling to adjust to varsity practices and the extreme fitness level required to play well.

“At my first varsity practice, I was dying,” Lee said. “There was so much running and it was so fast, but now I’ve gotten used to it and the upperclassmen are giving me tips and pointers on what to do. My teammates are really nice and great role models, I love all the seniors.”

The seniors seem happy to have her on the team, as most of them agree that she has been a benefit to the team, including senior middle back Mary Kate Marshall.

“In practice she is always really scrappy and gets almost every ball up. She also gets really excited during games so that helps our team a lot,” Marshall said. “She has helped us a lot. Having another defensive player ready to go in at all times is very beneficial. Her transition has been very smooth. 

Although she did not train for varsity specifically, Lee says that her summer with TAV helped her get to where she is now but it does not come without other struggles.

“JV and varsity are completely different,” Lee said. “Varsity is a lot harder, and when we practice with them it can be overwhelming at times and I wasn’t used to it. In volleyball when you’re younger, you don’t have as high of a court IQ, and I don’t have as high of a IQ as them. They are really good, and at first I was doing bad, but now I’m getting used to it and I’m doing better.”

Whether it is in the gym or the locker room, being a part of the team is the most important aspect in all team sports.

“I’m getting along with my team pretty well, at first it was a little awkward when I first moved up because I was the only freshman to get moved up. There’s a big gap between our ages and I’m used to it now, and they have too, but it was a little strange at first,” Lee said.

Varsity did not appear to mind too much, even the ones who have been there the longest opened up their arms for the freshman.

“Everyone was really excited for her, because we knew she has worked really hard for this. She is a great athlete,” Marshall said. “Lauren is a really sweet girl, she always has something positive to say.”

As much as her transition has affected her current teammates, the people Lee hangs out with everyday were the ones she cared about the most but was the least worried about negative responses.

The rise to the top is usually bound to create animosity, but Lee is not letting that stop her as she works her way to a high level of competition. Among friends and teammates, Lee was not fearful of her friends’ acceptance as she took a role not even she expected.

“A lot of the freshmen I talked to were like ‘Woah, she’s actually on varsity and that’s a big deal for her’,” Lee said. “Most of my JV teammates were super supportive and encouraging but some of them I could see were wondering ‘why wasn’t that me?’. But like I said, most of my teammates were helpful and happy for me.”

Overcoming adversity, Lee is proving herself to the person who it matters the most to at the end of the day, and it is showing in her playing minutes.

“She getting some time and all of our kids on varsity are competing for time on the court and she’s got an aggressive serve and we were looking for some aggressive servers,” Cowgirls volleyball coach Julie Green said. “She gets in there and she does a good job; she competes.”

Continuing on her path to success, Lee is appreciating every minute that she gets on the court come game time.

“I don’t play that much, but I didn’t expect to play at all,” Lee said. “Coach Green has played me a couple of games and that is just a big opportunity, because I know she plays the people who work the hardest and deserve it the most. I never thought she would even play me, and I’m taking away an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”