Above the Net With... Kaysie Paxton

Hello Lady Saint fans! KPax comin at ya! This is the beginning of my second season here at Seward County and I am looking forward to a great season. This year things are a bit different; we have nine new players as well as a new assistant coach. Coach Gallard brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the program and she is great to work with.  We have six returning players from last year and nine new Lady Saints from all over the world: Poland, Brazil, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Hawaii, and Texas. Our first couple weeks on campus we did many team bonding activities after a day full of practice including mini golf, a scavenger hunt, movie nights, family feud, and much more. The differences in languages and culture is always a learning experience but in the absolute best way.  So far we have accomplished a lot in practice as far as learning how to play together and improving our skills individually. Our first preseason scrimmages were also a great learning experience and allowed us to see a glimpse of our potential as a team. We were able take the win in the Greenhouse against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (with the help of an awesome crowd) and then took two more wins the following weekend at a tournament in Goodwell, Oklahoma. This weekend we head to Roswell, New Mexico to visit all the aliens and pick up a few really good matches against Cedar Valley, Pima, Eastern Arizona, and South Mountain. I anticipate that we will develop even more as a team and even figure out a few more rotational things. This is our first trip far from Liberal and I can honestly say that I am excited to see where the talent and hardworking mindset on this team will take us. 

I am also especially excited about this season because this will be my last season here. My first year here was mostly about learning how to do everything the Lady Saint way, improving my skills, and learning how to play at the next level. My sophomore season is about enjoying the moments and competing to the best of my ability. I have made so many great friends and met so many amazing people here in Liberal. I have an amazing Coach, Thais Allen and have had the opportunity to meet so many supportive community members. Though after hours and hours of time spent together: I will miss #1 Amanda Pereira and her funny way of always getting hurt outside of volleyball, #7 Maritza Mesa and how sometimes she talks so fast that nobody can understand what she just said, #5 Kimberly Diaz and her pulling pranks on the rest of us, #9 Belissa Guidotti and how she is always happy and smiling, and #13 Viviane Viana teaching me how to dance and unlimited supply of gas. I know that my fellow sophomores and I want to make every second count, not just because we love the game of volleyball so much, but because we know that everybody on this team is here to be successful.

 

Thanks for all of the support everyone, we look forward to seeing you in the Greenhouse next Friday! 

#10 Kaysie Paxton