Prior Lake High School Volleyball’s annual Youth Night brought young athletes, families, and fans together before the Lakers’ five-set win over Apple Valley. Hosted in collaboration with Prior Lake Athletics for Youth (P.L.A.Y.), the evening included free admission for youth volleyball players and pregame activities before the varsity match began.

Before the first serve, the gym was already full of excitement. Young volleyball players and their families gathered for the Youth Night activities, turning the pregame period into part of the evening’s main event. The energy carried into the stands and onto the court as Prior Lake prepared for a battle with Apple Valley.

A five-set match creates several different kinds of photographs: the concentration before a serve, the split-second reaction after a point, the movement at the net, and the emotion that builds as the match reaches its final moments. I look for those changes throughout the night so the gallery reflects more than the final score. It shows how the match felt from the court, the bench, and the stands.

As a volleyball photographer, I'm always cognizant of finding unique angles to capture the action. The gym at Prior Lake High School offers a number of great vantage points to do exactly that. The result is a wholistic gallery that offers a variety of images - from post-point celebrations to intense rallies.