ARGYLE - By the time Kayla Butler-Paulson turned old enough to hit a volleyball, her aunt had her in the backyard working on bumps and sets.
Butler-Paulson's aunt, Jen Butler, was in high school at the time, and Paulson was 6 years old when she started honing her volleyball fundamentals.
"I have been a setter for as long as I can remember," said Butler-Paulson, an Argyle junior. "I started playing volleyball with my aunt as soon as I could hold the ball. I've been doing it my whole life."
Butler, a 2005 Argyle High School graduate who played volleyball for Madison College, can recall how her niece would gravitate toward the volleyball. Butler said Butler-Paulson was always intrigued by the sport and looked forward to practicing her setting and passing.
"Even in middle school you could see her skill level was more advanced because she had started at a young age," Butler said. "At that age you can play basketball, but at volleyball they don't get that opportunity that young. I'm thankful I got to work with her when she was younger. I'm proud of the player she has become."
Butler is now in her second year as the Argyle head volleyball coach and her niece is right in the center of the action for the Orioles. Butler-Paulson is the setter for Argyle, and she's averaging 21 assists per match. As a setter, Butler-Paulson never leaves the court. She is relied on to find the sweet spots to set the ball for the Orioles' hitters. Butler-Paulson has to be keen on her timing and finding the best areas for her hitters to succeed. Butler-Paulson is like a coach on the court with her awareness.
"She knows when to be a vocal leader," Butler said. "It's just kind of a look, and we both know what each other is thinking. She has great court awareness and reads the blockers well. She is a great all-around player and defensive player. She has a strong jump serve."
Butler-Paulson takes pride in finding the right timing on her sets.
"It's an awesome feeling when someone gets a kill because it was from my set," she said. "There is nothing like it. You have to know your hitters and know where they like the ball."
Butler said Butler-Paulson has always been a player who shows heart and works hard.
"She's a smart player, and I know I can rely on her to get the girls going," Butler said.
Butler-Paulson welcomes the emotional challenge of being a leader.
"She obviously gets on me sometimes," Butler-Paulson said. "She looks to me to pick people up on the court. I like being a leader out there. You have to stay up because it's such a momentum game. We have to regain our momentum when we are down."
The Orioles have not needed much motivation to play with intensity and get going in matches this season. Argyle (12-4, 9-2 Six Rivers East) already clinched a conference championship. It's the first conference title for the Orioles since 1997.
"Last year we had a really good team, but we lost a lot of seniors," Butler-Paulson said. "Coming into the season no one thought we would win the conference. It means a lot to be on top and prove people wrong. We really just want to put something on the wall. It's been a long time since Argyle has had any titles for conference or regionals."
Butler-Paulson also has a coaching mindset when it comes to practice.
"It all starts in practice with how we practice," she said. "If we have an off practice we usually have an off game."
There haven't been many off matches or nights for the Orioles this year. After winning the conference, the Orioles are setting their
sights on adding a WIAA regional title to the wall at Argyle. The Orioles received a No. 2 regional seed and will host Faith Christian in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.
Catholic Central received a No. 1 regional seed. Catholic Central has qualified for state in six of the past nine years and won five state championships in that span including three straight titles 2010-2012.
"Not getting the No. 1 seed makes us even want to push harder," Butler-Paulson said.
Butler-Paulson's aunt, Jen Butler, was in high school at the time, and Paulson was 6 years old when she started honing her volleyball fundamentals.
"I have been a setter for as long as I can remember," said Butler-Paulson, an Argyle junior. "I started playing volleyball with my aunt as soon as I could hold the ball. I've been doing it my whole life."
Butler, a 2005 Argyle High School graduate who played volleyball for Madison College, can recall how her niece would gravitate toward the volleyball. Butler said Butler-Paulson was always intrigued by the sport and looked forward to practicing her setting and passing.
"Even in middle school you could see her skill level was more advanced because she had started at a young age," Butler said. "At that age you can play basketball, but at volleyball they don't get that opportunity that young. I'm thankful I got to work with her when she was younger. I'm proud of the player she has become."
Butler is now in her second year as the Argyle head volleyball coach and her niece is right in the center of the action for the Orioles. Butler-Paulson is the setter for Argyle, and she's averaging 21 assists per match. As a setter, Butler-Paulson never leaves the court. She is relied on to find the sweet spots to set the ball for the Orioles' hitters. Butler-Paulson has to be keen on her timing and finding the best areas for her hitters to succeed. Butler-Paulson is like a coach on the court with her awareness.
"She knows when to be a vocal leader," Butler said. "It's just kind of a look, and we both know what each other is thinking. She has great court awareness and reads the blockers well. She is a great all-around player and defensive player. She has a strong jump serve."
Butler-Paulson takes pride in finding the right timing on her sets.
"It's an awesome feeling when someone gets a kill because it was from my set," she said. "There is nothing like it. You have to know your hitters and know where they like the ball."
Butler said Butler-Paulson has always been a player who shows heart and works hard.
"She's a smart player, and I know I can rely on her to get the girls going," Butler said.
Butler-Paulson welcomes the emotional challenge of being a leader.
"She obviously gets on me sometimes," Butler-Paulson said. "She looks to me to pick people up on the court. I like being a leader out there. You have to stay up because it's such a momentum game. We have to regain our momentum when we are down."
The Orioles have not needed much motivation to play with intensity and get going in matches this season. Argyle (12-4, 9-2 Six Rivers East) already clinched a conference championship. It's the first conference title for the Orioles since 1997.
"Last year we had a really good team, but we lost a lot of seniors," Butler-Paulson said. "Coming into the season no one thought we would win the conference. It means a lot to be on top and prove people wrong. We really just want to put something on the wall. It's been a long time since Argyle has had any titles for conference or regionals."
Butler-Paulson also has a coaching mindset when it comes to practice.
"It all starts in practice with how we practice," she said. "If we have an off practice we usually have an off game."
There haven't been many off matches or nights for the Orioles this year. After winning the conference, the Orioles are setting their
sights on adding a WIAA regional title to the wall at Argyle. The Orioles received a No. 2 regional seed and will host Faith Christian in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.
Catholic Central received a No. 1 regional seed. Catholic Central has qualified for state in six of the past nine years and won five state championships in that span including three straight titles 2010-2012.
"Not getting the No. 1 seed makes us even want to push harder," Butler-Paulson said.
