VYPE: What are your sports goals for the year and how is the season going?
Hayla: I think my biggest goal is just to try my best as it is my senior year and to work with my teammates to the best of my ability. I would like to get a lot more digs this season and hopefully be able to use my jump serve before the end of our seasons. Our season has been going pretty well, we are currently 7-12. Even if our losses outweigh our wins, we have been fighting to the best of our abilities this season. Our senior class primarily makes up our varsity, so it means a lot to us that we still fight even if we do not have a perfect record.
VYPE: What are you looking forward to the most this sports season?
Hayla: I’ve anticipated playing the hardest teams on our schedule. I would usually be pretty nervous because there would be a higher chance that we could lose, but I think being able to play my last few games against harder teams really challenges me and shows how I handle adversity. Some of my teammates share a different philosophy, but I’m just happy to play regardless.
VYPE: Who is your favorite teacher from any grade and why?
Hayla: My 8th grade AVID teacher, Mr. Voyles. Now that I look back, I was really annoying but he was patient with me and made sure that he had my best interests in mind. He was a very supportive teacher, always had good advice, and overall was just a really nice guy. I could go on and on about the basics of why he’s my favorite teacher, but I feel like remembering those memories with him will be good enough for me.
VYPE: What is your favorite athletic memory?
Hayla: We had a volleyball player from USAO come down to help our hitters and she was demonstrating how to get on top of the ball. We had our passers ready to receive these balls, and one of my teammates got hut square in the face by this girl. She fell right on her back and the gym got super quiet. She sat up and said in the most enthusiastic voice, “I’m okay!” The gym erupts in laughter and we all help her up to make sure she was fine, which she was.
VYPE: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?
Hayla: My teammate Madison Walker. She joined the volleyball team my sophomore year and we have gotten extremely close since. I have gotten into my head throughout some of our games and really let my mistakes get to me, which she would help me with. It seems like she always knows just what to say and never fails to help me collect myself when I may be all over the place.
VYPE: What is your favorite part of being part of a team?
Hayla: I really enjoy being able to share a common goal with a like-minded group and feeling a space of belonging. I had never done a sport before volleyball, so being able to play a sport with my closest friends was really a game changer for me.
VYPE: You can pick any place for a summer vacation, where do you go and who do you take with you?
Hayla: I would love to take a trip to Slovakia with my mom and older sister. I did a project about going to Slovakia last year and I have wanted to go ever since! I really want to visit the Orava castle and bask in its beauty and architectural styles!
VYPE: If we gave you $500 and you had to spend it in the next 24 hours, what would you spend it on?
Hayla: I would buy a school parking pass for $20, buy a homecoming class shirt for $18, and fill my gas tank with 20-50 dollars worth of gas. I really love video games, so I will probably spend a lot of the money on getting games I would like to play or have yet to play. I also really love collages and art, so I will most likely splurge a lot on art supplies if it means I can create what I love. If I had still had money left, I would then probably spend it on clothing. I love getting cool t-shirts and sweaters, so I’d really enjoy being able to expand my collection of weird t-shirts and sweaters.
VYPE: Here is your chance to say hello, goodbye or thank you to anyone you wish.
Hayla: Even if it is cliche, I’d like to thank my mom and dad. My mom is my #1 supporter and is one of my best friends. We are extremely close and she is always open to listening to what I have to say or what I am interested in. My dad has challenged me the most when it comes to sports and wants to make sure I am using all of the potential I have towards volleyball. I would also like to thank my dog Kino. He’s one of my best friends and although he may not know what I’m up to half of the time, he still tries to get into my business by shoving his snout into everything. I’d also love to thank my coach for allowing me to have this opportunity to be featured with VYPE!
