By Ken Hansard
Olivia Edmondson, a senior setter and four-time letter winner for the Baxter Springs Lions’ volleyball team, like many players, loves the game because she loves to compete, but she has another reason as well, “I also love it because it came natural to me. With volleyball, I was able to figure out what I needed to do to improve.”
While Edmondson may have been talking about her own personal growth, she and her teammates have also evidently figured out how to improve as a team. The Lions, who finished last season with just four wins, have already eclipsed that mark, winning seven games in just their first week of play. According to Olivia, this was perfectly predictable, “I’m looking forward to this season because we have definitely improved, and I think this is going to be a really successful season. We have room to improve, but we have a very athletic team that is capable of producing wins.”
Much of that success has to be attributed to Edmondson’s leadership. Not only is this her fourth year with the Lions’ varsity squad, she is also their leader in assists and serve percentage, and was additionally named the team’s MVP. “My role on this team is to be the best captain and leader for our team. I also try to be the one that makes sure we all have fun.”
As a setter, Olivia has facilitated her teammates, not just with her leadership, but quite literally, as well. She currently is sitting at 1155 career assists and would like to finish her season with 1750, or more. She does say that the Lions need to continue to work on their in-game communication, but she is confident that they will be able to overcome any issues there, “We all started as a young team and have grown together, so I think our communication will greatly improve as the season continues.”
Besides volleyball, Olivia is also a three-time letter winner in basketball at Baxter Springs. Off the court, she is very active in the school’s culture. She is a member of the Spanish Club, the Lions’ Student Council, Science Club, and the prestigious National Honors Society. She is also strong in the classroom, with a perfect 4.0 G.P.A. She scored a 27 on the ACT.
After graduation, Olivia currently has plans to attend a university and pursue the radiology field. She is still undecided which school she will choose.
