By Chris Cox

Shawnee freshman Kylee Moore says she probably would not have played if it wasn’t for an older SHS volleyball player that encouraged her to give it a try.

“I give Madison Crowell full credit for me picking up a volleyball,” she says. “I never would have thought about playing if I hadn’t known her.”

While it was the encouragement of Madison that got her playing, Kylee says it’s the desire to be her best that keeps her going.

“I push myself to get better every day,” she says. “There’s always an outcome based off the work you put in. It’s not a sport where you can goof off and get something good out of it. You have to put all of your effort and determination into it.”

Moore also credits her mom, Sherry, and her coaches for her development in volleyball. She says her mom is biggest cheerleader and is always there to pick her up when things don’t go her way. She credits her coaches for her development as a player and says they push her and challenge her so she can be her best.

Being a freshman, Moore has not only had to adjust high school, but she has also had get used to playing stiffer competition, something she says drives her to work even harder.

“This sport is a whole different game at this higher competition,” she admits. “I think me playing varsity as a freshman pushes me 10 times harder and opened up my eyes to where I need to push harder.”

That transition to high school volleyball has also been made easier by her teammate.

“All my teammates have been great,” she says. “But Janelle Watson has been really wonderful. She’s been there to give me good correction and to lift me up. Janelle was my roommate at camp and has always been there to help me.”