When Poly’s girls varsity volleyball team finds themselves in need of a point or change in momentum, they turn to their new outside hitter, number 10, Katie Truong. The freshman, one of the most dominant players on the court, has only been playing volleyball for two years, far less than many of her teammates and competitors.
Troung has distinguished herself through her personality and competitiveness. Senior captain and middle blocker Daniela Watson reflected, “She’s gotten more aggressive and smart with her plays throughout the season. She makes the whole team laugh, [which] is really important, and we all respect her.” She has proven dedicated and reliable under pressure, thus someone the team can turn to in crucial moments.
In the front row, Troung utilizes her hitting precision to score off the empty spaces, and while on defense, she maximizes her height to cover space on the court as a middle back defender. Moreover, sophomore libero Charlotte Wang noted, “Katie can reset really fast and bounce back after minor mistakes. She is a team leader as a freshman and uplifts everyone on the team.”
Number 10 is always ready to bring whatever the Panthers need each game. With her fun, competitive spirit, Truong brings her excitement and athleticism to each big and aggressive hit. Head coach Katrina Damasco shared, “Aside from her physical stature, she brings an eagerness and a want to learn and improve. She is also willing to do whatever the team needs.”
She always calms the tension in tight games with her outgoing, positive attitude, making jokes as she jumps out of the gym and communicates with her teammates after every point.
At the Panthers’ Dig Pink game against Oakwood School on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Truong put up a stellar performance in the packed gym. In the first set, she had two ace serves and three kills, earning the highest number of points on the Poly side, along with a hitting average of 0.5. In the second set, she continued to dominate with seven kills and secured the sweep against the Owls with three aces and another kill in the third set.
Junior captain and libero Keira Kim said, “I love Katie’s bubbly nature as a goofball on the team. She has played very well this season, and she is an awesome teammate. I can’t wait to see what she does as she grows as a player for us.”
Truong stands out as one of the most athletic players on the court despite being a freshman. As she gains more experience, there’s no doubt she will continue dominating the court with even more prowess and excellence than before.
