Wolf freshman spiker Jaimee Masters. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
When Coupeville High School freshman Jaimee Masters takes the volleyball court, her role model isn’t too far away.
That would be her cousin, Wolf senior Hope “The Surgeon” Lodell, a lethal weapon waiting to be unleashed, who owns the school record for service aces in a season and a career.
As Masters fine-tunes her own game playing for the Coupeville JV and C-Team squads, she watches Lodell crush fools for the varsity and knows she wants to be in the same place one day.
“Hope has had a big impact on me,” Masters said. “When I was younger I always looked up to her; she was like the big sister for me.
“And during volleyball she’s the reason why I push myself constantly,” she added. “I strive to get on her level of skill or even better.”
Masters has two seasons of middle school volleyball, and another of club volleyball, under her belt, and her passion for the sport continues to grow.
“I started playing because I’ve always loved the sport,” Masters said. “I enjoy being a part of the team, and overall just playing.
“Volleyball has always sparked my interest,” she added. “I love the feeling of getting a perfect pass or a perfect set, or getting an ace when I’m serving.”
Masters, who plans to join her cousin on the softball field as well, spends a fair amount of her free time listening to music and drawing. At school, she most looks forward to classes revolving around art and poetry.
When she hits the gym, though, it’s all about improvement — taking the skills she currently has and constantly expanding them.
“I feel like my biggest strength would be passing,” Masters said. “An area I would love to work on would be my setting, because my team relies on me as a setter.
“My goals for this season are perfecting my setting ability, like being able to back set and having my thumbs back,” she added. “During my season of club volleyball, I got tendinitis in my thumb. And that really hurt me and my team because I was the setter. So hopefully I can perfect it again.”
Masters would also like to be “able to spot serve,” a skill her cousin excels in.
As she grows, on and off the court, Masters benefits from the support she gets from her family. It’s something she deeply appreciates.
“My parents have had a big impact on me. Without them I don’t know if I would be the person I am today,” Masters said. “They make me happy every day.
“Yes, we do have our hills and valleys, but they have helped me through so much.”
Coupeville Sports 