Woodland volleyball, senior captain, Brianna Pacileo only began playing just four years ago. Although, her career did not start until just before high school, it was right away that she developed a great passion for the sport.

“The week before my freshman year of tryouts, Nicole Fowler and Tayler Boncal took me to a pre-season volleyball camp at Connecticut Juniors in Woodbridge and I immediately fell in love with the game there,” said Pacileo.

With the encouragement of these now former volleyball players, Fowler and Boncal, Pacileo was persuaded into trying out for the team freshman year.

“I was really indecisive in what I was doing and then Nicole and Tayler were really pushing me for it saying how great of a game it was because they played their freshman year and they just pushed me to it and I ended up trying out,” said Pacileo.

It was not long before Pacileo became a part of the varsity team.

“It was my sophomore year I started, right going into my sophomore year and I haven’t been of the court since,” said Pacileo.

Not only does Pacileo work hard at practice and during the season, she has also taken it upon herself to take part in camps, which allow her to become an even better player.

“Every winter I do an off season camp at Connecticut Juniors and this past summer I did a sleep-away-camp at Sacred Heart University. I worked with the coaches there and I just like listening to all the different coaches give me different ideas and what I can do to make my game better. As well as practices with Amato,” said Pacileo.

While volleyball has been an overall great experience, there is one memory in particular that stands out to Pacileo.

“My most memorable experience was definitely making it to the state championship finals last year it was just such a rush and just so exhilarating,” said Pacileo.

Volleyball has definitely been a sport where Pacileo has found a great amount of success.

“I know I have over 600 kills as a career total , I think that’s a record that has been broken for Woodland as well as my aces which is almost at 200 for career and that’s pretty exciting,” said Pacileo.

This season, the entire team has been working very hard and their efforts seem to be paying off.

“As a whole we’ve really come together, we’re playing with a lot of heart and team spirit and we’re working really hard together and we’re putting in a lot of effort because we want to go all the way,” said Pacileo.

Although her final high school volleyball season is coming to a close Pacileo has no plans to stop playing anytime soon and is looking forward to starting her career at the college level.

“Yes, [I definitely plan to play],” noted Pacileo. I’m definitely looking forward to playing in college.”