With the 2022 volleyball season underway, many seniors are soaking in their last few months on the court.

Milan Mendoza, an outside hitter for Basha High School, is one of them.

Wearing No. 2, Mendoza says volleyball was not always her main sport, but that quickly shifted.

“I played soccer for eight years, thinking that was my sport," she remembers. "As I began slowly transitioning into playing volleyball, I just fell in love with it."

As Mendoza is fully taking in her senior season, she reflected on her history with this sport.

Born and raised in Arizona, Mendoza grew up Chandler. 

The community is home to her.

She began playing volleyball at age 11. Starting at the YMCA and playing through the organization up until her freshmen year, Mendoza was able to make the junior varsity team as a ninth grader without a single year of playing with a volleyball club.

The star player flashed a big smile when talking about her best friends, who happen to be her teammates as well. Senior Jayden Eaker, who Mendoza has been best friends with since freshmen year, also lit up when speaking on Mendoza.

“She has grown so much since our first year playing at Basha," Eaker said. "On and off the court her confidence has developed so much."

Eaker, who is recovering from a torn ACL, is committed to play volleyball at the University of Memphis.

With the long-distance relationship creeping up behind the two, Eaker is not worried about their bond.

Mendoza won't continue her volleyball career after high school, but has plans to attend Arizona State University and major in criminology.

“I know her dad very well and I know the bond she shares with her dad," Eaker said. "They are best friends, and I don’t see Mendoza moving too far away from her dad, and I think that is best for her."

Another teammate, Macey Camacho, is Mendoza's younger cousin.

Camacho shared that she's seen Mendoza grow up into a confident player and person.

“Milan is just…she is funny, but the type of funny that is confident," Camacho said. "She just has the ability to make you laugh."

With the year gap between Camacho and Mendoza, both athletes know they will have to part ways soon.

On and off the court, Mendoza will continue to live in the moment during her last season of volleyball.

Mendoza, standing at 5-feet-9-inches tall, uses her physical height to her advantage. She averages 28 kills per match and has a total of 30 blocks in just being on varsity for two years.

And though her she puts her heart into the sport, Mendoza also does so in her friendships as well.