The gym echoes with the sound of sneakers and whistles, but for senior Sienna Leon, the court is silent. Reading lips, scanning faces, and anticipating plays before they unfold, she moves with precision and focus. Born into silence, Sienna has proven that nothing, not even deafness, can limit her potential.

“I’m most proud that I’ve been able to do something that many deaf students in mainstream schools are scared to try,” Sienna said. “There aren’t many deaf athletes in mainstream settings because of communication barriers, lack of confidence, or bad experiences. I hope my determination inspires other deaf students to believe they can do it, too.”

Sienna’s journey began in sixth grade, when her pre-athletic coach encouraged her to try volleyball. At first, she was not sure she belonged, but she stuck with it and found a home on the court.

“When I was a freshman, I often felt clumsy and out of place,” Sienna said. “I thought I was too different to play for the school and was scared to show my skills. But now, as a senior on varsity, I can see how much I’ve grown. I’m more confident and proud to show everything I’ve learned as a right-hitter.”

One of the biggest challenges Sienna faces is being unable to hear when a teammate calls the ball. Her teammates adapted, creating new ways to communicate through hand signals, touches, and visual cues.

“Communication isn’t just about hearing. It’s about teamwork, trust, and understanding,” Sienna said. “My teammates and I have created our own way of communicating through sign language, eye contact, and hand signals. That’s shown me that with determination and support, I can overcome any barrier.”

Over time, the team has learned the basics of sign language basics to include Sienna in drills and in-game communication.

“Sign language has really helped me connect with my coaches and teammates,” Sienna said. “On the court, things happen fast, and there’s a lot of noise, or silence for me, so signing gives us a clear way to communicate. My coach uses signs during practice to show drills or give feedback, and during games, my teammates and I use hand gestures for plays and encouragement. It made me feel included and brought us closer as a team.”

That confidence on the court did not come easily. In a sport that relies heavily on quick verbal communication, Sienna had to learn to lead through vision and instinct. Varsity volleyball coach Jennifer Pittman understands that different players are kinesthetic, auditory, or visual learners, and Sienna was no different.

“Sienna has grown tremendously from her freshman year all the way through her senior year,” Pittman said. “Her learning curve is different from everyone else’s because she relies only on visual cues, while her teammates also get auditory ones, like the sound the ball makes when it’s hit. It’s been fantastic to watch her progress from freshman to senior year.”

Sienna works diligently to stay ahead of the game and strives to be inclusive as a leader every day.

“She’s a hustler,” Pittman said. “She’s always looking around to see what’s going on, and that awareness is something hearing players don’t always have. Because she has to visually scan and figure things out, she picks up on so much. She brings a ton of hustle and heart to the game, and every time she does something well, the bench erupts. It’s just fun to see her shining on the floor.”

Sienna’s journey has not been one of solitude. Her best friend, Sophia Sims, has been by her side since middle school, learning to sign so they could truly communicate.

“I decided to learn sign language when I could tell that she needed a friend and someone to lean on,” Sophia Sims said. “I knew she was new to school, and it had to be hard not having anyone to talk to. I already knew a little bit of sign language, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to learn more. It’s something that’s stuck with me throughout high school.”

Through the years of friendship, the two have faced challenges and grown together.

“Watching her sign on the court, or even make some noise to let people know she’s there, has been incredible,” Sims said. “It’s helped the whole team realize that being different doesn’t mean anything. You can lose an eye and still be perfectly the same.”

Learning sign language not only brings them friendship, but it also opens doors for Sims as well.

“I’ve met other deaf students at Bryan High and in the community, and I’ve realized how important it is to learn a new language for someone,” Sims said. “You could be the one person they rely on if they don’t have anyone else who can sign.”

Through volleyball, Sienna has learned to take pride in her identity and resilience.

“Volleyball has helped me grow so much as a person,” Sienna said. “It’s made me more confident in my deafness and helped me believe in myself in the hearing world. It’s also taught me to be patient and kind with people who don’t understand deaf culture, and I’m now more comfortable talking to people without an interpreter.”

Sienna has also found her voice as an advocate for herself, for inclusion, and for future deaf athletes who might doubt their place.

“Being deaf has shaped how I approach teamwork,” Sienna said. “It’s taught me the importance of clear communication and inclusion. I’ve learned to advocate for accessibility and make sure everyone understands each other.”

As graduation nears, Sienna reflects not just on the wins but on the courage it took to play in a hearing world and what she hopes others will take from her example.

“My advice to younger deaf students who want to play sports is to just go for it,” Sienna said. “Even if you don’t know anyone or you’re nervous about how people will treat you, work hard and prove that deaf people can do anything, even in sports.”