Logan Gray has been playing volleyball every year since he was ten years old. Senior Logan Gray has been a staple of the varsity volleyball program since his freshman year. His journey with the sport began in fourth grade, sparked by a lucky coincidence involving his family. “My mom coached at the YMCA with my sister, and I ended up playing because they didn’t have enough people on the team,” Gray recalled. That accidental start turned into a lifelong passion; Gray now plans to play at the collegiate level and hopes to make a full career out of the sport.
When he isn’t competing for the school, Gray plays for the AZ Fear club, an organization he has been with since fifth grade. By balancing both school and club seasons, he ensures he is almost always on the court. For Gray, the game is as much mental as it is physical. “Volleyball is all about making mistakes; there is a point to those mistakes,” he explained, noting that he maintains a strong mentality to bridge the gap between his strengths and weaknesses. For the last four years, he has practiced nearly twice a day, balancing sessions at school and at home
Managing the demands of high-level athletics and academics can be a burden for many, but Gray takes it in stride. “It’s awesome, honestly,” Gray said. “I don’t take many high-stress classes, so it’s not very difficult. I just take it one step at a time.” Because he has been juggling club and school schedules since elementary school, the busy lifestyle has become second nature to him.
Head coach Ryan Tolman has had a front-row seat to Gray’s evolution over the years. Tolman describes him as a rare talent: “Logan has always been a unicorn of sorts. He combines height and physical ability with a high volleyball IQ. He plays freely with very few mistakes, which is rare. His impact is felt as an attacker, defender, server, and leader. He is the heart and soul of our team.” His impact as a teammate Tolman explains, “he is the steady player that they can rely on. When things get tough, Logan rises to the occasion”.
Tolman has helped Gray improve during all of his time at the school. Seeing him up and down, taking a win or handling a loss as Tolman describes “ He is a gracious and humble winner. He is respectful to his opponents and the game”. Even with the team high winning streak.
Gray’s influence extends to his teammates as well. Toman explains “ Logan has learned to lift his teammates, and he never gets rattled in big moments”. Senior Ronan Tyler, who is new to the team this year, credits Gray with helping him elevate his game. “He’s just really energetic and pushes everyone to their limit,” Tyler said. The two have become fast friends, spending their time training together with one specific goal in mind: bringing home a state championship this season.
Gray plans to end his last year on a high note, winning the championship for the team. Gray will use statistics, physical talent and his own hard work to win one more time. Whether he is competing for a state title this spring or stepping onto a college court next fall, Gray’s journey from a fourth-grade “fill-in” player to a varsity standout proves that for Logan, the game is far from over.
