Well before the first pass, set, and hit drill of the new 乐播传媒 volleyball season, this year鈥檚 Bobcat team gathered for some teamwork, off the court.
Before each season, varsity teams spend an hour or so for team and individual marketing photos, known as 鈥渟portraits.鈥� And they get to have some fun along the way, brainstorming poses and cheering on one another.
Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College
For new 乐播传媒 players, the photo sessions are a low-stress way to get to know teammates.
鈥淚t was a super-fun and lighthearted bonding experience,鈥� said Eden Lorin 鈥�27 of Piedmont, Calif. 鈥淚t was a good way to get to know everyone. It really made me feel like I was officially part of the team.鈥�
This year, the fun got a boost from McKenzie Barker, a little girl from nearby Norway, Maine, who is . 鈥淗aving 鈥橩enzie join us for sportraits this year was so much fun,鈥� said Amanda Power 鈥�26 of Scottsdale, Ariz. 鈥淪he brings such a sassy vibe to the team.鈥�
As players talk about the photo sessions, they also take the long view, knowing that long after their last match in Alumni Gym, the photos will deliver happy and vivid memories of times at 乐播传媒.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool that I get to look back on my experience as a college athlete because the time goes by so quickly,鈥� says Kate Hansen 鈥�25 of Menlo Park, Calif.
Bobcats like to bring props to the photo shoots, including flags of their home states and nations, provided by head coach Emily Hayes and her staff.
鈥淏eing surprised with our state flags was really great,鈥� said Alma Mackic 鈥�24 of Lake Forest, Ill. 鈥淚 loved the idea of showcasing the fact that even though many of us are from different places, with different experiences, and different backgrounds, we are all united through 乐播传媒 volleyball.鈥�
Nine states, including Barker鈥檚 Maine, and the nation of Canada are represented on this year鈥檚 volleyball team. Emma Patard 鈥�26 is from Outremont, Quebec. 鈥淏eing able to represent my flag in the U.S. is really meaningful,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e get to see where everyone is from,鈥� says Hansen. 鈥淎t home, I鈥檓 surrounded by people who come from the same community. But on our team so many different people from different backgrounds makes for an interesting dynamic.鈥�
Additional reporting by Hannah Kothari ’26
