Thursday, January 16, 2025
The Evant volleyball team accomplished something it has only done one other time in school history this past season when it reached the regional tournament in back-to-back years.
A number of factors have contributed to the Lady Elks' success in 2024, but perhaps none more important than the six seniors who form the backbone of this state-ranked team.
Coach JoAnna Vaden said Molly Waldrum, Hailey Neri, Luwi Rodriguez, Izzy Gandy, Harley Weeks, and Bree Ramirez formed the core of a volleyball team that won a district championship, received a first-round bye in the playoffs, won their area round and regional quarterfinal matches, and found themselves one step away from a berth in the state tournament.
“This season was fun and exciting,” Vaden said. “The girls wanted to win district for the fourth year in a row and succeeded. Not only have they won district all four years, but they were also undefeated in district all four years. Not only that, but they were determined to make it to the regional tournament again this year. They succeeded in that as well.
“We were hoping to go further but just fell a little short of that. I could not be prouder of these girls and of all the hard work, determination, and effort that they have given not only this year but every year.”
Senior middle Molly Waldrum, 17, plans to attend Tarleton State University and major in kinesiology next school year and said this year feels like she is going out on a high note.
“I am very satisfied with the outcome of my senior volleyball season,” Waldrum said. “I am very proud of my whole team, and we had a great coach coaching us everything we needed to learn.”
For outside hitter Hailey Neri, 18, who is heading to McLennan Community College to study nursing, being a part of a team that accomplished what the Lady Elks did this year was amazing.
“It has truly meant so much to me being the second team in school history to reach the regional tournament two straight years, playing with my best friends and enjoying the little things,” Neri said. “Everything about it means so much to me, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.”
Waldrum was named the district's Most Valuable Player, and Neri was a first-team all-district selection.
Luwi Rodriguez, 17, is also headed to Tarleton State to major in Sports Communications, and the outside hitter said (reflecting on the season as a whole) it was not any major accomplishment that stands out to her, but rather time she got to spend with her teammates and coaches.
“My fondest memory from this season was eating with the team,” Rodriguez said. “After every playoff game, we get to go eat a good meal and celebrate the win or the season. Growing as a person with these seniors is something I will never forget. All of the players and coaches feel like family.”
Middle hitter Isabel Gandy, 17, who is off to Texas A&M to major in sports medicine agrees with Rodriguez that it is the people who have made her journey special.
“I think the thing that I will remember the most about my time with the Evant volleyball program is the friendships that we made,” Gandy said. “Most of us have played volleyball for Evant since sixth grade, and the last seven years have brought us closer. I can't imagine life without them.”
Rodriguez was named Co-Defensive MVP of the district, and Gandy was selected as a first-team all-district player.
It has not always been rosy, as some of the seniors have faced some challenges along the way that forced them to confront detrimental behavior.
Harley Weeks, 17, is headed to Texas Tech University to pursue a career in animal science, for instance, and the Lady Elks setter said at times, it was difficult for her to cut herself some slack.
“The biggest challenge I have faced in my career is myself,” Weeks said. “I always make myself be the best that I possibly can be. When I do this, I put so much pressure on myself and it ends up being a lot to bear. I am very hard on myself on the court, in the classroom, and even outside of school. It is okay to be hard on yourself, but the amount of pressure you apply can make a huge difference.”
Bree Ramirez, 17, who played right side and will be joining Weeks at Texas Tech and majoring in nursing said her biggest wish is that this year's senior class is remembered for approaching the game of volleyball the right way.
“I hope that the legacy we seniors leave to our upcoming players is that perseverance is rewarded,” Ramirez said. “Nothing is easy, and you should give it your all even if you don't succeed. I hope that as seniors, we have instilled in the next generation of athletes the drive to achieve greater success in all that they do.”
Weeks was selected as the Setter of the Year in the district, and Ramirez was named the district's Offensive MVP.
Vaden said the impact that Waldrum, Neri, Rodriguez, Gandy, Weeks, and Ramirez have made on the Evant volleyball team is indelible.
“These girls have been a huge part of the program from the very beginning,” Vaden said. “My first year in Evant was when they were freshmen. That year the team consisted of two seniors and six freshmen. We were more or less the underdogs in most of our matches with so many inexperienced players. That did not stop any of us.
“The girls were very coachable and fiercely competitive, willing to work together to achieve their goals. They learned so much that year and continued to learn and improve each and every year. They have become true leaders and have shown the underclassmen what it takes to be successful.”
