The rise of the rejects

Many+students+who+did+not+get+the+chance+to+play+for+the+school+volleyball+team+formed+a+recreational+team+through+Plano+Sports+Association+called+the+Lojo+Rejects.

Katie Brucher

Many students who did not get the chance to play for the school volleyball team formed a recreational team through Plano Sports Association called the Lojo Rejects.

Katie Brucher, Staff Reporter

With six state championships in the last seven years, the volleyball team is only stocked with the best of the best, leaving several students without a spot on the team. But for some students, they didn’t let rejection end their love for volleyball. The Lojo Rejects gives several students the opportunity to continue to play outside of school.

“I always wanted to play volleyball but I knew I was never going to be good enough to be on the school team,” senior Jenna Farrell said. “Last year I would go to every volleyball game because I really enjoyed watching the team play. After watching all the games I said, ‘Hey I kinda want to start playing,’ so I called up some friends and we put together a PSA volleyball team.”

While the team name may be funny to some, there is a factual basis to it.

“We are called the Lojo Rejects because most of the players have been cut from the program at one point or another so the name was just kind of a funny way to express that,” Farrell said.

While most of the players on the team have been cut before, there are actually two varsity players on the team.

“It’s pretty cool to be a part of the Lojo Rejects this year because a lot of people try to get on the team but they only let a few people join,” senior Hannah Field said.

The Rejects aren’t a typical volleyball team.

“One thing that makes our team different from a conventional team is we play in a co-ed league,” Farrell said. “Originally we were an all girl team, but we wanted to make sure we could compete so we added guys.”

While the core of the team remains, there will be a few missing faces this year.

“We lost Mick Ellis because he graduated and we also don’t have Hunter Pfaff this year,” senior Heather Bittlestone said. “We are adding Hannah Field who just won a state championship so she will be a great addition to the team.”

Although some of the people on the team are new, its goal remains the same.

“This league is just for fun so we don’t demand that everyone shows up,” Farrell said. “That is why we have a few designated back-ups that fill in when some of the players can’t make it.”