By Chris Cox

Tecumseh freshman Kennadee Mason didn’t always plan on playing volleyball but once she started, she realized it’s a sport she truly enjoys.

“I started playing three years ago when my mom encouraged me to try out,” she says. “It’s hard to say what I like about it, but it’s fast paced and it’s just fun.”

One thing Kennadee learned early about volleyball was that communication is key. With a smaller court and more players than basketball, volleyball, at times, can be chaotic. She says communication is a must for teams to be successful.

“It’s very important,” she says. “We are always talking. Talking about what seam we have, who’s getting the ball and calling for the ball.”

While several people have had an impact on her life in volleyball, Mason says her coach at Tecumseh High School, Emma LaChappelle, has had probably the greatest impact on her young volleyball career.

Mason says Coach LaChappelle’s energy and organization makes volleyball enjoyable every day. For most freshmen, just making varsity is a goal, but for Mason she her sights set on something a bit bigger.

“My first goal was to play varsity,” she says. “But I want to start regularly on varsity, and I’d like to eventually play in college. As a team, we want to be ranked in the Top 10 and make it to state and win.”

While success on the court is important to Kennadee, playing the sport the right way is just an important to her.

“You have to know your place and role on the team,” she says. “But you also have to have a good personality and know how to be a good teammate. I try to encourage my teammates and cheer for them.”

Outside volleyball at Tecumseh, she also plays for a club and hopes to have the opportunity to play at the next level.