Logan Hamilton is a senior on the Verdigris Cardinal volleyball team and has been a starter for four years. As a junior Hamilton moved to the outside from middle blocker, a role she was comfortable with thanks to her time spent playing on club teams.

“Moving to the outside from middle wasn’t the hardest change,” Hamilton said. “I had always played outside in club so I was more comfortable there than I was in the middle. I think it was better for my team as a whole for me to play outside and not middle.”

Hamilton’s history with volleyball goes back several years to her days playing in YMCA leagues. One of Hamilton’s favorite aspects of volleyball isn’t just the competition that takes place on the court, but the camaraderie and bonding she finds with her teammates.

“I started playing volleyball when I was 11 years old at the YMCA. My favorite aspect of the game is having a team to support me,” Hamilton said.

“Sometimes I can be very hard on myself when I’m doing bad and my teammates are pretty good at helping me get out of it.”

Hamilton said her goal for the year was to make the state tournament. Verdigris had some recent success at the Port City Tournament and Hamilton spoke about the experience.

“It was a couple of weeks ago and we beat Regent during it,” Hamilton said. “That is also one of my favorite memories from this year because we barely ever have the same energy and excitement we had in that game. They were also number one in the state at that time. We had played them a couple of times before, but it had always been very close.”

While Hamilton knows where to turn for support on the court she is very thankful for the love and care that her family provides and often turns to family members for advice. Hamilton appreciates the example that her Nana sets and aspires to be like her.

“I look up to my Nana, she is retired now but I think she works harder than she ever has,” Hamilton said. “She takes care of my great grandma and my papa. She also took care of my great grandpa before he passed away last year. She gives more of herself to other people than she receives, and I hope I can be like her someday.”

As Hamilton’s senior year of high school is coming to an end she has already begun looking ahead to life after high school.

“After I graduate high school I will be playing volleyball at McPherson College. I plan to major in biochemistry and then move on to medical school,” Hamilton said.