Humans of East: Abby Lee

Freshman Abby Lee currently plays on the sophomore volleyball team and the JV lacrosse team for East. Volleyball season is over, but lacrosse tryouts were last week and practices began this week.

How and when did you start playing volleyball?

“I think it was like fourth grade. Briarwood started a rec team, then I just started playing on that. I really liked it, so I started playing club in seventh grade. I played club in eighth too, and then I quit playing club. Then I just tried out for volleyball at East.”

Why did you end up quitting club?

“I wasn’t as focused on it. It’s more competitive because in high school people start doing it for college. College volleyball is super competitive. I wasn’t too good at volleyball, it isn’t my strength like lacrosse is. So I stopped doing club and just did school instead.”

What position do you play?

“I play right side hitter.”

How did the volleyball season go?

“It was good. There wasn’t as much to it because of COVID, but we still got to play a good amount. Like at the end of the season there’s normally a tournament, and we didn’t have one because of COVID.”

How and when did you get into lacrosse?

“I started playing lacrosse in seventh grade just for Prairie Village Outlaws, and I got into that through friends. I played PV Outlaws in eighth grade too. It goes up to eighth grade, so after that I started playing for East.”

How were tryouts?

“Good, it wasn’t that nerve wracking. The coaches kind of said they already had their minds made up about who would make the team because there weren’t really any new people. They know where my skill level is [because I played in a summer league], so I wasn’t nervous about it. Tryouts were more like practice with drills and scrimmages.”

What position do you play?

“Midfield.”

Which team are you on?

“I’m a swing player, but technically I’m on JV. [Swing] means I play for JV and sometimes varsity because freshmen aren’t on varsity.”

What would you say the team dynamic is like?

“I know everyone’s skill level pretty well, maybe not some of the seniors, and I think we’re pretty good. We’re all really athletic. We can understand a drill really fast, we all know the game pretty well and we have good communication. We just make a good team together.”

What are your goals for volleyball and lacrosse?

“I don’t really have any goals for volleyball. I’m just doing it for fun. And for lacrosse, since I made the highest team a freshman can make, maybe I’ll consider playing in college. I’m kind of just seeing where it goes.”