With a recent win against Mayfield and the upcoming Girls Dig Pink Charity Volleyball Match in October, the Poly girls varsity volleyball team is on a roll. Leading the charge is senior Cyanne Jones, the captain of team.
Prior to volleyball, Jones played soccer at Clairborne. After injuring herself in the eighth grade, Jones was forced to switch sports. She took an interest in volleyball, piqued by the team-oriented aspect of the sport compared to soccer, which felt more individualistic. So, she gave volleyball a try.
Jones has now played volleyball for five years, with four of them being on the Poly varsity team. In that short time, she has become a key player on Poly’s team. Jones has also gained multiple achievements. Awards she has received include an All Star selection at a tournament in Hawaii, All Tournament MVP, Poly’s Coach Award, and the Best Blocker Award, just to name a few.
Jones’s roles as a middle blocker and captain are not the only important contributions she brings to Poly’s volleyball program. Her teammates say she is an energetic and lively person who helps bring the team together.
“Cyanne has always been a very dynamic player. This year, as a four-year returning varsity player, she is a dynamic leader that plays a huge role on the team,” said head coach Katrina Damasco-Dipiculo. “She brings an energy that feeds the team. She can have a lot of fun with the team and also brings a focus and an intensity her teammates look to.”
Many of her teammates not only echo their coach’s sentiments about Jones but also say she’s a reliable teammate that they enjoy playing with.
Senior Lilie Henry stated, “I think she adds a great energy, and she really helps us get hyped and brings a team connection. She’s very upbeat and brings a lot of fun energy and she is very aggressive but in a good way. She’s always up, waiting for the set and ready to kill it, and I appreciate that.”
“As a leader, she does a really good job leading the team and being someone we can lean on,” sophomore Camellia Ding commented.
“She’s one of the most aggressive hitters we have, but she’s very consistent. She’s consistent with her serves, and I can trust her to score when we need to.” “She’s one of our team captains and she’s a really great leader that helps us get on the right track if we’re feeling down and that helps to uplift team spirit,” junior Bella Duncan echoed. “She’s a really positive leader. She’s also really encouraging on the court.”
When things start to go the wrong way on the court, Jones lets her actions and skills do the talking, and it shows in the scoreboard. The varsity team’s winning record demonstrate that Cyanne is an exceptional captain whom her teammates can rely on.
