Windsor Central High School junior Gabby Hans and her sister Ruby, a freshman, played in the USA Volleyball National Championships in Reno, Nevada earlier this month. They played as part of the Whirlwind travel volleyball team.
“It was a really cool experience. There were so many teams there from all over the country and all the teams were playing at a really high level,” said Gabby Hans.

“It was so fun. It was definitely challenging but we were able to play to the best of our ability and win against some tough teams,” said Ruby Hans.

Both aspire to play volleyball in college, and this tournament allowed the pair to experience a greater level of competition.

“I saw a lot of new things and learned how to play at a higher, faster level against these better teams that you don’t get to see around here,” said Gabby.

“We were exposed to really high levels of volleyball. Compared to last year on club (team) and this year, there has been exponential growth for our team and the teams we play against,” said Ruby.

Both are already getting ready for next season, planning on attending camps and open gyms during the summer, and building on what they learned at the National Championships.

“These are the kinds of competitive players and teams you see. Even if you don’t win, they push you to grow as a player,” said Gabby.