It’s uncommon for a freshman to see varsity playing time, but that’s not the case for freshman Ava Frye, who plays right side and setter for the Yutan volleyball team. Even though this is Frye’s first year in high school, this is a goal she has been working toward for years.

“It feels really good to have achieved my goal because I wanted that spot for a long time,” Frye said.

Frye’s love for the game started in kindergarten when she first started playing volleyball on a small team called “Little Diggers.” Frye was influenced by her two older sisters, who both played volleyball. 

“I first got into volleyball because my older sisters played it, and I really enjoyed watching it. I just thought it looked really fun, and I wanted to be like my older sisters,” Frye said. 

As Frye got older and had more experience with the game, she started playing higher-level club volleyball.

“I played at River City Juniors for a few years, then I switched clubs, and I have played at Elite for the past two years,” Frye said.

Through club volleyball, Frye got the opportunity to learn many new positions on the court. 

“This year, I’m playing at setter and right side, but I’ve played all positions besides being a middle,” Frye said.

One of Frye’s favorite things about playing volleyball is the team atmosphere.

“The best part of volleyball is being on the team and being able to do something that you love with other girls who also love the sport,” Frye said.

Through her experiences, Frye gained a lot of skills, and these skills, combined with other personal qualities, are what have earned her a spot on the varsity lineup. 

“She’s probably one of the hardest workers that we have in the gym, and she’s very smart, which comes mainly to the setting aspect because that’s where I work with her a whole bunch. She’s very good at making corrections and adjusting, and she’s always open to trying new things,” assistant coach Heidi Krajicek said.

Her teammates also notice Frye’s knowledge on the court and how she is a good addition to this year’s team.

“She just brings us closer as a team, and she’s a really good player. It’s nice to have her since we’re a younger team; it’s good to have somebody who can step up and play varsity,”  junior Emmy Tederman said.

While playing volleyball has a lot to do with skill, it also has a lot to do with a player’s mental game, which is one of Frye’s biggest challenges, especially being a freshman among the upperclassmen on the court. 

“My challenges are keeping my confidence up, especially during tough games. When I’m going back to serve, and it’s a really close game, I get a little nervous. So I just try keeping a straight mindset,” Frye said.

Frye thinks the mental side of the game is very important, and that is something she is always trying to improve.

“Mindset is very important because you have to believe in yourself and believe that you can do hard things during hard games,” Frye said.

Even when Frye does get nervous, she appreciates that her team is there supporting her.

“They reassure me when I’m down and not playing my best and just let me know that I’m doing fine when I feel like I’m not playing up to the standards I have for myself,” Frye said.

Even though the season is almost over, Frye still has goals for herself to keep improving and to try her best.

“Individually, I want to get better at all the skills for my positions, and as a team, making it to state and having a successful finish to the season would be really fun,” Frye said.

For all of the young players looking ahead, Frye thinks volleyball is a good sport to try, no matter what skill level or how old the girls are when they start playing. 

“Keep practicing; you’ll get better eventually. If you dream it, you’ll get there,” Frye said.