By Dayanara Gamez

   Sophomore Jasmine Garcia is in year two of playing for Tempe Prep’s girl’s varsity volleyball team and with eight “Player of the Match” awards this season and a 4.3 kill-per-set average, she is a star player on the team. 

   Jasmine first made the varsity team as a freshman and won Regional Player of the Year. This season, she received the award for the second year in a row. 

   Jasmine attributes her success to “the time and effort I put into my training for this sport that I love, and to my extremely supportive family.” Jasmine has two older sisters who both played for the Tempe Prep volleyball team, including Emilie Garcia, from the class of 2020, and current senior Hannah Garcia.    

   Thanks to Jasmine’s unique ability to overcome the “underclassman on varsity” dynamic, she was named a team captain this year. At the game against Arete Prep on Aug. 30, head coach Angela Gore said, “Jasmine was a great leader for our team in all areas. She communicated well during this game with her teammates, she had lots of energy, and she stepped up in times when we needed her most. ”

   Jasmine is a versatile player on the court and a great leader. When talking about the season highlights, Jasmine says,”My favorite thing would have to be the bonds I make through the season (and) our team cheers and the bus rides to the game and back.”