Jordan HammYou can’t pick your family, and you can’t pick your teammates, but for Sunnyslope volleyball, that’s a good thing. The Vikings are coming off their second straight Division II state championship last week. They have a talented roster, including Wichita State commit Emma Wright and Skylar Wine, who will be playing collegiately at the University of the Pacific.
Two of the girls who have helped set the tone for the state title runs are the Fleury sisters. Senior libero Molly and junior outside hitter Libby have brought poise and a level head to the competition.
“They can turn things around and they don’t get frazzled,” Sunnyslope head volleyball coach Amber LeTarte said. “You don’t see them…freaking out. They stay very calm.”
That calm demeanor came in handy in the state final match against Ironwood Ridge. The Vikings dropped the first set, and Ironwood Ridge seemed to have the momentum in hand, but the Fleurys and the rest of the Sunnyslope squad scratched and clawed their way back into the match and won the next three sets to become state championships.
That focused style of play is something the Fleurys have always possessed. Libby says she illustrates her style of play after older sister Molly.
“Just to be competitive all the time, always strive to win, never let a ball drop. She does the same thing, and that’s how I play,” Libby said.
In return, Libby has shown she plays with a consistency that her sister and the rest of the Vikings can model their play after.
“I always want to be that consistent. Libby is just so composed and so with it all the time, and that’s what I look for in her is someone I can rely on,” Molly said.
The Fleury sisters have accomplished something few siblings get to experience together. Not only will they remember these back-to-back state titles, but also times on the court where they were able be on the same page as teammates….even at times they may not have been as sisters.
“I get to look back on this my whole life and just think there are times where we aren’t fighting,” Libby joked. “We’re actually cooperating all the time, which is nice.”
Molly is still deciding on her playing future after high school, but she wraps up her senior season as a state champion. Her playing days with Libby may be over, but Sunnyslope looks to continue their success on the court. They return nine juniors, four of which have played varsity since their freshman year. They hope Libby’s consistency and these experienced juniors will give the Vikings a three-peat.
