On Saturday, Nov. 9, sophomore and setter Kylee Mark made her mark on the court at the Varsity Girls Volleyball CCS Championship game against Aragon High School. During the game, MVHS quickly took the lead, setting a swift pace while Mark continued to set ball after ball. Unknowingly, one of those sets turned out to be an incredible accomplishment: her 1,000th career assist.
“I don’t remember which point exactly, but I knew I was close before the game,” Mark said. “I was at my friend’s house, and I was looking at the statistics from our game. I went to MaxPreps and it said I hit 1,000. Then I texted my parents and my sister and we started celebrating.”
Mark says reaching 1,000 career assists is a special accomplishment given that the team runs a 6-2 style offense, meaning there are two setters on the court at a time. She says her feat reflects the work she has put into the sport, constantly training since freshman year.
“Making decisions for our team’s offense has helped me improve a lot, and in general, staying consistent on the court and providing hittable sets to my hitters is very important to me,” Mark said. “I think I’ve gotten better at that every single year. It’s just cool to watch my skill evolve.”
In addition, Mark plays with her sister, senior and captain Kiana Mark. Mark’s close bond with her sister has contributed to her playing style over time. This trust has especially helped add to many of her assists since she knows her sister is there for her.
“We have a lot of trust in each other,” Mark said. “She’s always there for me on the court, whether I’m setting her or we’re just talking. I know I can always count on her and it’s cool to have that bond with someone because obviously other people aren’t going to be able to experience the same thing.
Moving towards the end of the year’s season, Mark acknowledges that this year was the last year at MVHS Mark gets to play with her sister before her sister graduates. Nonetheless, she said she enjoys every moment left on the court during this season.
“Every win is huge for us both,” Mark said. “As I’m going towards the end of the season, it’s just so nice to play with her.”
Going forward, Mark hopes to continue adding to the count to reach 2,000 career assists through her two remaining years at MVHS. With hitting the personal record as a sophomore, Mark credits the team for supporting her and making her success possible.
“Knowing that all these people love and support me no matter what and have helped me reach that goal is just really nice,” Mark said. “I love the people I play with, and I think without them, I wouldn’t have been able to reach this milestone.”
