Olivia Prickett is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Liberty High School for AZPreps365.com

Star-studded senior setter Tristen Raymond will play at the NCAA Division I level for the Pepperdine Waves following early graduation, setting the bar high for the Liberty Lions Women’s Volleyball program. 

Raymond is, without a doubt, a powerhouse for the Lions’ offense and defense. Throughout her time playing for the Lions, she has delivered impressive numbers and continues to do so in her final season at the high school level. 

Her performance has caught the eye of many college recruiters, but one destination in particular caught Raymond’s attention early on. 

June 15 marks the day Division I volleyball coaches can start reaching out to the athletes they are interested in. Although the process is normally tedious and full of make-or-break decisions, it was a breeze for Raymond as she took only five days to decide where she wanted to spend the next four years competing at the next level.

This winter, Raymond will pack up her bags and move to Malibu on the California coast where she will join the Pepperdine Women’s Volleyball program starting Jan. 13, 2025. She will graduate from Liberty High School a semester early to get a head start training with the program.

“[Pepperdine] has been my dream school since I was little,” Raymond said. “I really like their team culture and I love the coaching staff.” 

Going into the college-level competition will take some getting used to for Raymond as the game moves faster than what she is currently used to. However, she expressed that she feels more comfortable now than she did last year due to playing with a higher age group during her last club season with Revolution Volleyball Academy and having trained for this opportunity. 

This has been her goal ever since she started playing volleyball when she was little.

“During COVID I was like, ‘This is my time to get better,’ because my dad would do trainings and workouts with me,” Raymond said. “I thought, ‘Okay I should just keep pushing myself to see how far I can go with volleyball.’” 

Raymond owes a huge part of her success to her family and coaches. Her parents played a huge role in helping her reach the next level, encouraging her to go where she wanted for school and to live out her dreams. Her club and high school coaches helped with the recruiting process and made sure she was staying on top of maintaining a positive mentality. 

But it goes beyond that. Her teammates also play a crucial role in her journey, serving as an essential part of her support system. 

“Not only are we close on the court but we are always with eachother off the court,” Raymond’s teammate Avery Best said. “She brings the team up with her high energy and encouragement… She is the real definition of a student-athlete.” 

As she nears the end of her senior year with the Liberty Lions, the impact she will leave on the women’s volleyball program is nothing short of exceptional. 

“Tristen is one of the most competitive people you’ll meet… Her character and the way she carries herself will leave a bigger impact on this program,” Liberty women’s volleyball Head Coach Chris Brown said. “She doesn’t take days off, she wants to come in and practice and get better at her craft and it doesn’t go unnoticed.” 

Raymond encourages younger athletes to never give up on their dreams and to make the best of what they do because if she can follow her dreams, others can too. 

“It may seem tough at first and you may think you can’t do it but if you keep pushing yourself to be the best person you can be, then you can get there,” Raymond said.