Not everyone sticks with the same sport but junior Mylee Tichota has been playing volleyball since she was little. 

“I’ve been playing since I was probably four or five years old. Right when I started school,” Tichota said.

One of Tichota’s favorite things about volleyball is the people and the relationships that form through the season.

“I really like the team aspect of it, like being around people and kind of creating almost a family bond, the chemistry, being around my friends a lot, creating a bond with teammates. It’s really special,” Tichota said.

These bonds are what helped Tichota get through a painful situation her sophomore year.

“Last year, I struggled with a lot of pain in my shins, but I kind of got to push through it, because I do it for the team,” Tichota said.

As an upperclassman now, Tichota feels her challenge with her shins has benefited her and she can help the team better.

“My role is to be more of a leader and kind of take the reins. I think that this year I’m taking more of the role of guiding people and helping people, play through things and with just the knowledge that I have from playing in the past, I can really help people…be confident in themselves and just be a leader on the team,” Tichota said. 

This leadership is something that her teammates, like junior Madison Wilson, have noticed. 

Wilson said, “She helps push me by giving me constructive criticism to be the best player that I can, and by giving me tips to help me improve and succeed.”

Head coach Jodi Bierman notes that Tichota’s leadership is just one of many strengths she brings to the team.

“Mylee’s athleticism, height and competitiveness are all huge strengths. She also stays pretty level-headed and has grown into being a team leader, not just because of her playing ability but because of her calmness and game IQ,” Bierman said. “We could use Mylee in any position we needed. She is a great hitter, blocker and passer. But she also has great hands and could set if we needed her to. She is just incredibly dynamic.” 

Tichota’s skills have been useful in many situations, including one of her favorite games from last season against Fremont Bergan.

“Last year when we played Bergen in semi districts, that was a really fun game. Being the second time we played them, it was definitely a good matchup because we knew their tendencies and they knew ours, so you kind of had to switch things up that you wouldn’t normally do because they already knew what you were going to do,” Tichota said.

Tichota’s main goal for the current season is to get to state. 

“I would really like to finish my two high school seasons strong and hopefully get somewhere in state.”

Bierman also has some goals for Tichota.

“I just want Mylee to keep loving volleyball and growing her skills more each year. Being a multi-sport athlete, I can’t imagine the demands on her time. So I am just hopeful she keeps loving the game and she keeps adding skills to her tool kit,” Bierman said.

These skills may lead to a college opportunity. Tichota has been talking to coaches, though she is still not sure about her future in college volleyball. 

“I’ve definitely exposed myself to the college coaches, and I’ve had a couple conversations with coaches, but I think it’s something that I kind of got to feel for in the next two years, and if it’s something I want to continue or not, or I want to kind of end it after high school. It’s definitely on the radar, though,” Tichota said.

For those looking to emulate Tichota’s success, her advice for anyone who’s playing volleyball is to be confident and try.

“Put yourself out there. Volleyball is definitely about creating bonds and finding friends and put yourself out there. It’s not a quiet sport, so you have to be loud,” Tichota said. “Be helpful to others. I mean, you might not always know what you’re doing, but talking yourself through it or talking to others through it will get you pretty far.”