By George Zeliff
Mail

Senior Syndey Boeshans is the heart and soul of the Fountain Hills High School volleyball team, and the October Fountain Hills Times Independent Athlete of the Month.

The Falcons, currently 17-5 and ranked 10th in 3A, already have their most wins in a season since 2018, when they went 27-10.

Boeshans and five other Falcons are third-year varsity starters. They have grown in experience and confidence and recently beat No. 12 Scottsdale Christian Academy for the first time in years. The Falcons lost 15-13 in a tiebreaker set to No. 5 Northwest Christian Thursday, Sept. 28, but Boeshans said that loss is only motivating them for their rematch Monday, Oct. 23. 

“We’ve known that our senior year was going to be our strongest year that we’ve had thus far, and I think that’s also determination,” Boeshans said. “Knowing that we are at our peak right now, it motivates us to work harder, like getting first in the Payson tournament and third in the other tournament. We know that we’re at our peak.”

Boeshans is the Falcon’s libero on the court and has a bigger role as an emotional leader on the team. Her coaches in both indoor and beach volleyball talk about being mentally tough and resilient when things don’t go their way, and Boeshans pours positive energy onto her teammates to keep them focused on the next point.

“I think she keeps our team happy,” junior Jocelyn Bloedel said about Boeshans. “You will never see her face down. You will always see a smile on her face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her get mad at anyone. She always has a smile and she’s always picking everyone up.”

Boeshans has played volleyball since the seventh grade and is one of six seniors this season. The libero wears a different color jersey and can only play in the back row, and the position is often thought of as a defensive specialist.

“She’s so consistent and people overlook the liberos a lot because she’s not getting kills, she’s not up there blocking, but she does everything else,” head coach Olivia Long said. “She assists whenever Bella [Garman] and Kit [Garman] can’t, she covers her little butt off, she takes those deep digs, she serves so consistently, not to mention she has the best attitude of any teenager I’ve ever met.”

“You say heart and soul, and Sydney is that,” Long continued. “And then, Bella’s the liver and the lungs, and she’s everything else that keeps it moving.”

Boeshans said she is a naturally positive person, but her job helps her stay upbeat. Boeshans works weekends at Pal’s Inn Pet Resort in Fountain Hills and plays with dogs all day long. She said it’s a great serotonin boost, and she carries that energy with her all throughout the week.

Boeshans is also a great student, holding a 3.75 unweighted grade point average. The Falcons are out on fall break and don’t return to class until Tuesday, Oct. 17, but they are busy with practice and their last tournament.

The Falcons host No. 23 Camp Verde (16-9) Thursday, Oct. 12, and then they play in the Florence Invitational Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14.

The Falcons have four more regular season games afterwards, with home games against No. 38 Wickenburg (1-15) Tuesday, Oct. 17, and No. 12 Scottsdale Christian (13-12) Thursday, Oct. 19. All varsity games start at 6 p.m.