CHICO — In fall 2021 Sophia Winter was part of a group of Pleasant Valley sophomore volleyball players who were called up to the varsity team, and two years later she is part of a Vikings’ team that currently sits atop the Eastern Athletic League standings.
PV defeated Chico High 3-0 Tuesday at Chico High, and Winter led the Vikings in kills with 14. Eight of those kills came in the final set and an ace by Winter sealed the win for PV, after the Panthers and Vikings battled back and fourth in the second set. Winter finished with 14 kills, three blocks, two aces and seven digs Tuesday.
Due to Winter’s strong performance, she has been named this week’s Chico Enterprise-Record Prep Athlete of the Week.
“100% Sophia is the most loved teammate on our team,” said PV head coach JJ Mitchell in an email. “Our setters always respond when I ask them who they believe in to get one kill for this match in our pre-match meeting it is always Sophia.”
Thau, the captain for the Vikings, said that Winter is one of the most positive people on the court and also brings a level of calmness to a team that is a perfect blend with the amount of energy on the team.
Thau spoke about seeing Winter’s growth since the two began playing volleyball together freshman year, and playing varsity together since their sophomore season.
“Just seeing her grow personally and being with her personally, seeing how we’ve both adjusted to new teammates and new ways of playing, it’s really impressive,” Thau said.
Winter began playing volleyball with CARD in elementary school, and connected with Vikings’ coach JJ Mitchell first in seventh grade at a camp. She played soccer growing up as well, but soon found her love for volleyball and now devotes all of her time to it.
At the camp in seventh grade, Mitchell mentioned to Winter that he also had a beach volleyball camp. It was there that Winter truly found her passion. Beginning the summer of her sophomore year she has taken beach volleyball season seriously. Now, Winter has achieved her dream of pursuing volleyball after high school. Winter, along with outside hitter Sadie Moore, have verbally committed to play beach volleyball at the University of Arizona.
Winter loves beach volleyball because she can get a touch on the ball so often and focus in on one teammate. She loves the mind game and placing the ball in specific places. Winter said both sports help each other, in terms of being able to jump higher and hit positionally.
“I think she’s going to do really big things when she goes to Arizona,” Thau said.
Winter said the key to her growth is showing up to practice early every day and working hard.
Winter’s coach Mitchell had high praise for his outside hitter. Mitchell talked about Winter’s exit and individual improvement planning meeting that occurred on Jan. 11, 2023.
“Sophia opened the meeting by stating, ‘I’m not the player I want to be.’ Sophia was genuine and accountable,” Mitchell said. “We developed a plan for her improvement and best possible senior year. Sophia asked and I granted a 30 minute pre-start to 7 a.m. workouts January through May. Sophia started right after the first tryout text and asked for feedback on skill and positional reads.”
After the Vikings’ 3-0 loss to Shasta Sept. 19 in Redding, Winter sat next to Mitchell for the entire bus ride home asking for more blocking breakdown work.
“Sophia has been the most accountable, detailed, off-the-court player this season in a season of multiple players investing in our off season trainings and coaching,” Mitchell said. “Sophia is a three starter that’s hard work when no one is watching is paying off big time right now. No one accepted three positional changes with more accountability and team first attitude. I think Sophia is really enjoying herself and playing free, fast, and physical.”
Winter said volleyball has definitely made a big impact on her high school experience, pointing to the friendships she’s made and the love for her teammates.
“I love them to death. They are my ride or dies, and playing with them just makes everything,” Winter said.
When asked about unique things about her, Winter mentioned three things: she drives a truck, she has a twin sister and her favorite color is orange.
Her goal for the final season for PV indoor volleyball would to make it to the CIF State finals. The Vikings lost 3-0 to Mercy in the CIF Division III Regional Semifinals in 2022.
Winter and the Vikings continue Eastern Athletic League play at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Red Bluff. PV will compete in tournament play Friday and Saturday, before returning to EAL play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home against Shasta. Winter and the Vikings will then face Foothill on Oct. 17, before closing out their regular season at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at home against Chico High.
