Adia Mackenzie eyed the ball as she waited for it to reach her. She yelled four to tell her teammates what set was coming. Her fingertips touched the ball, she pushed the ball to the left front and a teammate slammed the ball down for a point. The girls on the court and in the bleachers yelled, “ah boom kill shot.”

Mackenzie is a freshman who moved to Kaufman from California at the end of July. She plays volleyball and is on junior varsity as the setter with Adi Abanilla. Mackenzie also played club volleyball in California.

“There is a lot more competition in jv, you’re pushed past your limits,” she said.

As freshman on jv, Mackenzie said she gets treated the same as the sophomores.

“Coach Morales told us that everyone on the team deserves to be on the team and and he won’t treat anyone differently,”she said.

Mackenzie maintains her grades by getting as much homework done in study hall during her athletic period or after she plays her game.

On the court, Mackenzie’s favorite positions to set are huts (a lower set to the outside hitter) and ones (a shorter set to the middle hitter.) She likes to set these positions because they are more fun and less challenging than any of the other sets. It is also easier for the defensive specialist to pass the ball which means she can make a good set.

So far, the team is undefeated in district and won the Wills Point tournament, they are off to a great start.

“Being on the JV volleyball team is very competitive and intense,” said Mackenzie. “It will make you a better volleyball player.”