By Josh De Luca
Contributing Writer
Hamilton High School senior Raegan Richardson has built a remarkable high school volleyball career as a captain and a leader. With her commitment to teamwork and personal growth, she is now poised to take her skills to California State University, Northridge.
Richardson grew up in a family of basketball players; however, her path took a different turn when she discovered her passion for volleyball in the second grade and was drawn to it.
“I grew up surrounded by basketball and being in a gym, but as soon as I was introduced to volleyball during recess, I fell in love with the sport and ran with it from there,” Richardson said.
Richardson started her high school career at Gilbert High as one of two freshmen to make the varsity roster as a middle hitter. Gilbert High was successful during Richardson's freshman and sophomore years but she faced a lot of hardship due to a constant knee injury keeping her out of the lineup.
“I had prepatellar bursitis, which made it really difficult because any hard impact would fill my knee with fluid,” Richardson said. “It was challenging, but after a lot of physical therapy, I managed to recover.”
Despite facing significant challenges with her knee injury, Richardson remained determined to excel.
In Richardson's sophomore year of high school she switched from middle hitter to outside hitter. She made this change due to being considered undersized for her position. Since she was versatile enough to be able to pass, hit, and serve receive, this would be the position she stuck with the rest of her high school career. A career which included a transfer to new scenery.
Richardson would transfer to Hamilton High School her junior year confident that the school’s reputation would offer her greater opportunities.
“I decided to transfer to Hamilton because I knew I would continue to grow there, given the players that come out of Hamilton,” Richardson said.
After a successful junior year filled with achievements and lots of growth, Richardson made the big decision in May 2024 to commit to California State University, Northridge, eager to take her volleyball career to the next level. She is also excited to travel out to California.
“I’m really excited to head out to California and all over the country. I love to travel, it's one of my passions and to be able to do it while playing volleyball is a dream,” Richardson said. I’m also looking forward to challenging myself at the collegiate level.”
Currently, in her senior year, Richardson has taken on the role of one of the team captains, guiding her teammates with her leadership and experience both on and off the court.
“Being a captain is a great title to have, but I don't think it means you're higher than anyone else. It’s about being a mentor and supporting my teammates,” Richardson said.
Teammate and fellow team captain, Ava Anderson, described Richardson as the leader every team needs in order to keep them focused.
“Raegan isn’t going to let things slide. She’s always going to try to keep us active, by working on and off the court. She loves to take action and she’s always level-headed,” Anderson said.
Richardson’s teammate, Anna Williams, admires her composure in high-pressure situations, explaining how she keeps the team cool and calm when the game gets tough.
“She’s very calm. When it’s chaotic, she doesn’t get stressed,” Williams said. “When she sees that a player is down, she reminds them, " It's okay. We got this. Let’s do it together.”
Looking ahead to her collegiate career, Richardson encourages young athletes to embrace the challenges they face and enjoy the journey.
“If you work hard, maintain confidence, and be a good teammate, you’ll be on the right track,” Richardson shares, reminding them that every challenge is an opportunity to grow and become better.
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