Female Athlete of the Issue: Lily McAtee

By Henley Horowicz and Sofia Padro Wiggins

For Lily McAtee, volleyball started as something new. After playing lacrosse in Virginia and moving to Georgia, she decided to try volleyball in seventh grade. She quickly fell in love with the sport, joining a club team that year. 

Now, as a DS/Libero, Lily’s favorite part of playing is bringing her authentic team energy to the court. She considers being “scrappy,” or driven, one of her biggest strengths, especially when getting difficult balls and saving short tips. Her favorite memory of this season was attending Coastal Carolina Volleyball Camp, where the team bonded while competing against other teams and placed second in the camp lip-sync battle.

Her biggest challenge in volleyball is keeping her mind clear in games, especially after a bad pass. Lily tries to not let one mistake affect the next play, focusing on forgetting the previous move and relying on her team for support. Since her first year, Lily has improved significantly, especially with her serves. She went from an underhand serve to a jump float, a three-step serve hit that she can place anywhere on the court. Beyond volleyball, Lily says the team has helped her build irreplaceable friendships that will last beyond the season. Looking ahead, she hopes to double her state aces and bring more energy to her senior season.

Lily's advice on playing volleyball is simple: “definitely do it.” What started as a one-season break from lacrosse became her favorite sport and one of the most meaningful parts of her life, creating lasting friendships and memories that she can carry with her beyond the court. For Lily McAtee, volleyball has led her to find a community where she can compete, grow as a person, and express herself truthfully.