How one student leads with confidence on the volleyball court
One match stands out for Phoebe during her London Christian High (LCH) volleyball career.
Pitted against Woodstock Collegiate Institute (WCI)—the team’s fiercest, long-standing competitor—she rallied the senior girls to great heights.
“Playing against WCI has always been a hard challenge,” says Phoebe, a Grade 12 student. “In a game at the WOSSAA (Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association) tournament, we played one of the craziest sets ever.”
Volleyball sets are won at 25 points if the top-scoring team is ahead by two. In one tough set at WOSSAA, neither LCH nor WCI had the two-point lead to secure the win. Not at 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29.
Showing team integrity
“With no cap in points, we kept at it,” adds Phoebe, “playing a very intense and stressful game, and knowing every move, every hit was important.”
LCH came out on top, 32–30. “That was the highlight of the season for me…I loved it so much because it showed the integrity of the team.”
Phoebe started playing volleyball as a young girl, and joined a club team while in elementary school. “I love the game because it’s a great outlet to play with friends and build community.”
That love comes through—both on and off the court. “My goal is to always stay positive and never let the down moments take over,” she says. “I make sure everyone knows that a mistake is not just one person’s fault…we’re in this together.”
Phoebe with her teammates
Getting confidence back
Her encouraging personality draws from a place of faith. At the 2025 championship game for Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA), LCH won the first two sets against West Elgin Secondary School. Phoebe and the team needed one more to secure the title.
“When your opponent takes away the momentum, you can fall into a slump and make lots of mistakes,” she says, recalling how that happened in the TVRA final.
“I encouraged the girls to make one hit at a time…because I knew giving them those chances might get their confidence and rhythm back.”
In the end, LCH lost the match, but Phoebe did not lose faith. “God has gifted me with kindness and encouragement,” she adds, “and I will always try my best to be a light in His Kingdom, a blessing to others.”
