Unity. Team work. Single mindedness.
The volleyball team encompasses what it means to work together toward a single goal. After moving up to 6A, the coach and team knew they had to become stronger, faster, and smarter than ever before. The team has risen to their own expectations and has entered district play as a force to be reckoned with.
“Team unity is a culture that we’re trying to create,” Davis said. “Whether it’s our freshman team, JV team, or Varsity team, it’s just an all-inclusive culture dictating that we have to be for each other, have each other’s backs, and play as a complete unit every single game. At the 6A level, we can’t just have a stand out player and expect to win; it takes every single player on the floor to get the job done.”
The entire team works together whether they are vocal or quietly leading by example, which has impacted the team in a positive and progressive way.
“This particular team drives itself in the sense that everybody can contribute,” Davis said. “I have several people that lead in different ways. Our vocal leader is Coco Gillett. Our more quiet leaders, that lead by action, would be Brittany Brelend and Kya Yanez, our libero. Nyah Walker has been with me for four years so she’s been here my entire time and she’s been the lead player on varsity.”
Over the last four years, senior Nyah Walker has come to appreciate the way Davis pulls the team together and pushes them to the top.
“Coach Davis always pushes us and knows that we may think that we might not have anymore to give she believes that we have more to give,” Nyah said. “She pushes us beyond what we think we can do.
Senior Kya Yanez emphasizes how supporting each other on the team changes what they are capable of as a single unit.
“Each game we get better and focus on getting better at our own craft,” Kya said. “If one person isn’t doing very well then the rest of the team will pick them up.”
For senior Brittany Breland, trust is the other component that makes the team work as an efficient machine.
“I define a team as people who you can rely on and that you know have your back in any situation,” Brittany said. “The volleyball girls are a team because we trust each other to accomplish any task before us.”
This season, Davis earned her 100th win during her four years as head volleyball coach at Bryan High.
“My one hundredth win was a surreal experience because I really didn’t know I was getting up to that number and it was special because it was at home,” Davis said. “The next game would have been on the road, so if we would have lost at home, it would have happened on the road. I think it was the perfect storm since this is our first district game and it was a big game.”
Despite the importance of the game, the entire team felt no additional pressure to work harder because they were confident in their abilities and treated it like no other game.
“I learned about her needing one more win to reach her 100th a day or two beforehand,” Brittany said. “The team approached the game like any other and didn’t feel any additional pressure. Every game is a new challenge and the bond this team has makes it easier to face it head-on.”
