Social studies teacher Ashley Napoles’ whole life has involved volleyball– first as a player, now as mom.

“When I was a senior in high school, it was my last year playing and we won districts, regionals, and went to states for the very first time,” Napoles said. 

Napoles started playing volleyball when she was eleven and loved it ever since. She put her own daughters into volleyball even earlier, at four and six years old.

“Both my kids reminded me of when I played volleyball,” Napoles said. “My oldest daughter reminds me more of my husband, but my younger daughter reminds me more of myself.” 

Being a volleyball mom is a huge commitment, but a rewarding one. There are tournaments all over the states, and when you’re as good a player as the Napoles daughters are, you travel a lot.

“For tournaments, getting to travel to different states is fun because we get to try typical foods of that area and build family memories together,” Napoles said. “Thankfully because tournaments are on the weekends and the big tournaments are usually during the summers, it does not affect my work schedule and I get to attend most of their tournaments.” 

Napoles sees her own high school passion on the court at every game her oldest daughter Brianna plays in. Brianna is a competitive volleyball player on her high school varsity team and for a club outside of school. 

“It takes up my entire life, and I am super passionate about it,” Brianna said. “It is basically who I am and I just love it so much.”

Brianna’s goal is to play Division 1 volleyball at the collegiate level. Napoles wants the best for her daughter and hopes she gets to do what she wants in her future.

“Attending is so fun because I get to see my daughters doing something they are good at and I am so  competitive so they are very fun to watch,” Napoles said. “My hopes are that my daughters get to do whatever they like.”