With the 2024 volleyball season in session, our seniors have been working hard to show they have what it takes to win! This year’s team has six seniors: Madison Austin, Colby Eastwood, Sadie Glasscock, Khamauri Mays, Carleigh Strader, and Reagan Vickers.
Madison Austin has been playing volleyball since the 4th grade. When asked who she plays the sport for, Austin said, “My dad. He put me in sports when I was really little. He’s very inspiring, and he always wants me to push as hard as I can to get as far as I can.” When she is not playing volleyball, Austin is playing softball or working in her jewelry business. Austin’s most memorable moment throughout her volleyball career was when they beat Abington High School. Austin plans to attend a 4-year college and get a BS in interior design. If you are looking for advice on trying out for volleyball, Austin recommends, “Just work. Put in effort and work to get to the level you want to be at.”
Colby Eastwood is Tunstall’s outside and started with travel volleyball in the 6th grade. When asked who she looks up to most, Eastwood said, “Definitely my dad. He taught me a lot of what I know about volleyball. Also, our Coach Paige. I look up to her a lot too.” Eastwood plans to attend JMU or Coastal Carolina to study exercise science or kinesiology. Eastwood plays softball in the fall and loves to hang out with her boyfriend when she’s not playing volleyball. “Just work hard,” Eastwood said when asked what advice she had for anyone planning on trying out for volleyball. “Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you bring you down or make you feel like you’re less than you are.”
Sadie Glasscock has been playing volleyball since the 4th grade and is Tunstall’s DS, also known as a defensive specialist. When asked who she plays the sport for, Glasscock said, “My mom. She influenced me a lot just starting with sports. She was also my coach for the longest time.” Glasscock’s most memorable moment was when she played in her first tournament after tearing her ACL. “I’m gonna miss all the girls so much,” Glasscock said when asked how she feels about this being her last year playing high school volleyball. Glasscock plans to attend college at JMU and go into their nursing program. Her advice to anyone who wants to try out for volleyball in the future is, “Don’t expect to be the best. You’re going to have to work for what you want.”
Khamauri Mays started playing youth league volleyball until the 5th grade, then picked it back up sophomore year. Mays is Tunstall’s middle, and when she’s not playing volleyball, she’s working at Buffalo Wild Wings, playing softball, or reading. When asked how she feels about this being her last year, Mays said, “It’s sad because I haven’t been playing with the girls for that long, so I feel like I didn’t get as much time with them. I’m going to miss them a lot.” After high school, Mays plans to attend college at Virginia State University to play softball. “I play for my grandma and dad,” Mays said when asked who she plays volleyball for. Mays’ advice to anyone who wants to try out for volleyball in the future is, “Just put yourself out there because the worst that can happen is you don’t make the team. I think just trying your best is all you can do.”
Carleigh Strader started with county ball in 6th grade and is now Tunstall’s right side. When Strader isn’t playing volleyball, she’s hanging out with her boyfriend or brother. “It’s always been about the team,” Strader said when asked who she plays the sport for. She said, ”Honestly, if I didn’t have the bond that I have with the girls on the team, I probably wouldn’t be playing volleyball. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sport aspect of it, but I feel like the glue of it is the girls on the team.” Strader plans to attend college at Virginia Tech and major in dairy science. Straders advice to anyone who wants to try out for volleyball is, “Don’t shy away from conditioning or open gyms. What will make or break you is whether you continue coming or not.”
Reagan Vickers is Tunstall’s middle blocker and has been playing volleyball since the 5th grade. Vickers said her most memorable moment throughout her volleyball career was, “Last night, I got hit in the face under the net by a ball. It was very memorable.” When Vickers is not playing volleyball, she is at her internship for the Dan River sports and media program. The person who inspires Vickers the most is her mom. Vickers said, “I wouldn’t still be playing if it wasn’t for my mom’s encouragement. She helps me get through all the hard times and the losses.” Vickers plans to attend a 4-year college out of state and major in sports medicine. Her advice to anyone who wants to try out for volleyball is, “Don’t be scared. If you come out and show a lot of effort to the coaches and have a good attitude the whole time then I think you will have a good shot.”
We are all super excited to see what our Tunstall Trojan volleyball seniors have to show for their last season. Wishing them all the best of luck in any of their future plans!
