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Boyd celebrates volleyball seniors
For years, Anna Jones, Sarah Woodruff and Lia Wright watched senior nights for teammates and wondered how it would feel when they were playing their final games. The trio of Lady Broncos found out Monday at JK Stanley Gymnasium.
Boyd honored its seniors in a doubleheader against Zion Christian, celebrating all the great moments Jones, Woodruff and Wright have experienced as Lady Broncos. The trio, and in particular Woodruff and Jones, have helped push Boyd volleyball to a new level.
“Each girls brings something special to the court,” said coach Amanda Key. “Each year, it’s fun to see the group get better and play better as a team. I’m really excited about what they’ve accomplished as a team and I’m looking forward to seeing them continue to play this year.”
Boyd was a TNCAA tournament finalist last year and picked up their first win over crosstown rival Covenant in 2020. This year, the Lady Broncos have made steady progress throughout the year and could be position to make another deep tournament run in the coming weeks.
Woodruff, a senior captain, has watched the program grow by leaps and bounds the last two years. She was happy her teammates put her in a position to lead, even if it came as a surprise.
“(Being captain) means a lot. I never thought I’d be chosen as captain, but it helped me really step up and help the girls. From last year to this year, I’ve seen everybody grow. I’ve seen how I’ve grown too and it’s been nice to help the program move forward,” said Woodruff.
Walking on the court with family was emotional for all the seniors, especially knowing it could be one of the final times they play volleyball at JK Stanley Gymnasium.
“It was really special – it’s the day I’ve been dreaming of since I was little. I never thought it would be here, but it’s here and it’s unbelievable,” said Jones. “Being with this group has been great. The growth that we’ve had is amazing.”
Woodruff added, “It means a lot to me. Being here for four years and being at these (senior night) games, I always looked forward to the time I would be a senior and get to go through senior night.”
Wright was the latest arrival of the seniors – she transferred to the school during the winter during the 2020-21 basketball season. It still meant a lot to the former Morrison Lady Eagle and WCHS Lady Pioneer to walk out on senior night as a Lady Bronco.
“I loved it. Everybody treats me like family here,” said Wright. “We’re trying to get better and better each year. I wanted to come in and give everybody confidence to believe in themselves.”
Coach Key has seen all three show their skills as key contributors this season. She added her thoughts on each:
Key on Woodruff: “She was chosen as a captain this year because of her positivity. She is always encouraging and uplifting the team. She’s been great – she’s on fire this year hitting.”
Key on Jones: “I’ve been really impressed with her serving – she has some speed behind it. Anna stepped into a leadership role, on and off the court.”
Key on Wright: “I’m really excited to have her playing. It’s her first year playing and she’s blown us away. She’s a great athlete and no matter where I put her on the court, she does a good job.”
Boyd will get a chance to get another huge win this Thursday when it starts the TNCAA tournament. The Lady Broncos and Covenant Lady Lions will meet up in the opening round of the tournament. Action at Covenant is set to start at 6 p.m.