When it comes to sports, athletes come with a heavy amount of competitiveness to be “the best”.The journey is full of hard work and dedication, which can be seen in freshman Ashlyn Malone.

Malone is part of Advanced Placement Human Geography, an advanced history class offered at Ripon High. She’s also in Business Computer Applications, a class that teaches students how to navigate through Microsoft, which she believes will help her later in her adult life.

Malone is involved in clubs like Girls League and the United Club. When asked about them she said, “These clubs represent some of my values as a person, such as leadership, faith, and sisterhood.”

While also focusing on education, Malone found an extracurricular that she enjoyed. Malone developed her interest in volleyball during the sixth grade when she and her friends went to clinics hosted by the Rage Volleyball Club. When the clinics were over, Malone decided she wanted to play volleyball at the competitive level and played for four years in Rage. When Malone arrived at Ripon High School, she knew she wanted to play for the Indians, as well as Rage. She went to every practice and conditioning prior to RHS tryouts. When the results came out, Malone’s number was written under Varsity.
Malone said, “When I was moved up to varsity, I was a little bit nervous and scared because all of the other girls were really good, but after playing with them for a bit, I can tell that it’s super comfortable when we all play as a team.”

With so many mentors by her side, Malone is bound to succeed in her volleyball career. Not only with her athletic ability, but with communication and leadership skills.