2023-2024 was a fantastic season for Viking Girls Volleyball going 13-4 and making it to the second round of the state playoffs.
They were led by a combination of experienced seniors and talented underclassmen 3 of whom will be playing college after next year.
One of these will be Junior Zoe Haan who will be leaving Arizona and playing 4 years at Cal State Monterey Bay University.
“I’ve always wanted to play volleyball in college as a kid,” said Haan, “It’s always been something I was looking up to and training for.”
Playing sports in college is something almost all kids dream of but only a small percentage succeed in doing and it never seemed in doubt for Haan.
Senior Andie Purdy said, “I think it’s been her goal ever since she started paying and especially having older siblings that do it.”
Purdy has known Haan since the junior’s freshman year when they were on Varsity together and said over the years she’s grown to love her.
“She’s super bubbly,” said Purdy, “She’s just friends with everyone and always super nice.”
While Haan has made an impression on Sunnyslope Volleyball it also greatly affected her as well.
“Coach LeTarte really had an impact on me mentally playing volleyball and outside of playing volleyball,” Haan said, “She helped me want to play volleyball more like I was kind of not wanting to play in college and she really inspired me to start loving volleyball more.”
Haan isn’t the only Junior that will play in college one day as she is one of three which says a lot about the program.
“It shows how good the program is and how much our coaches push us to want to play volleyball in college and just get the ability to play in college,” said Haan.
The coaching at Sunnyslope is very important to the development of the girls part of the program and what they learn could be very helpful in college.
Purdy said she thinks Haan’s “ability to adapt to stressful situations” will benefit her with the transition to college and when it comes to court she said, “She’s always been on the court when we need her most and i think her ability to take what she can get in any moment will mean she will thrive in college.”
Haan still has some goals she wants to meet before she leaves though.
“My senior year I want to have a last good year with all my friends before I leave for college, especially because I’m not staying in state,” said Haan, “and growing better as a volleyball player and getting more consistent.”
Haan may be leaving Arizona, but what she has accomplished so far as a Viking will always be remembered by those who know her.
