Teammates with different talents and similar goals

Lanie Smith and Jaaliyah Evans have different ideas to make the world a better place while working together to make Paul VI a better volleyball program.

Both seniors and good friends, Smith and Evans are set to follow different career paths through different passions after they receive their high school diplomas this spring.

Smith is president of her school’s environmental club and plans to study environmental science at Saint Joseph’s University next year while Evans will take on finance or economics while minoring in social justice.

“I’ve always had a love for the Earth and I get really sad when I see people littering,” Smith said. “It makes me upset and I want to do something to make the world a better place and this was a good place for me to start.”

Smith’s focus is physically saving Earth from toxins, starting on the surface, while Evans hopes to repair emotional scars underneath. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement over the summer, Evans became involved in her town’s social justice club in Collingswood and marched for injustice after a friend was arrested during a police raid on his home, she said. Evans took part in peaceful protests and gathered signatures for a petition that helped release her friend.

“Over the summer, with everything that happened with Black Lives Matter, it really inspired me to make change, not only in my community but on a global scale,” Evans said. “It was cool to get involved and I’m hoping to continue it.”

They have both started making a difference in the world already, much like they do on the volleyball court for the Eagles, who are viewed as one of the best teams in South Jersey after an 18-7 season last year.

Smith’s dedication to volleyball began nine years ago as she picked up the sport from her dad, Ken, who coached the Saint Teresa’s Regional School Wildcats.

“He kind of helped me grow to love this sport because I got to learn from him,” said Smith, who plays opposite for Paul VI. “We would play in the backyard and he would take me to practice.”

His influence went further. Because of Dad’s enthusiastic coaching style, Lanie began serving as an assistant coach at her club and started teaching fourth-to-eighth graders at volleyball clinics to share her love of the game.

“I learned from him to have fun,” Smith said. “He taught me all the basics and I’ve taken that with me. Hopefully, I can coach when I’m older as he’s been the model and an emblem for me on how to be a good coach because he was always so positive. He makes all the players and coaches feel good about themselves.”

She even learns a thing or two from her young students.

“I love teaching little kids because I learn so much from them, seeing their progress,” Smith said. “And it’s so nice seeing how much they take from me.”

Smith is also a student ambassador at Paul VI and takes part in History Club with Evans and the two became friends through school and volleyball when Evans transferred from Collingswood High School after sophomore year. She was a seamless fit with the Eagles, who added another powerful outside hitter and another student who excels in the classroom. Evans currently takes four advanced placement courses and is near the top of her class in grade point average.

“It was easy to fit in with the team because I was with them in the summer before that season,” Evans recalled. “Once the season came, we were pretty close by then. It felt like I had been here the whole time.”

Graduation is quickly approaching for both girls, who are looking to make one last big impression on the volleyball court, during a year when high school sports were anything but certain.

“I was really scared because our season kept getting pushed back and back and I didn’t think we’d have one,” said Evans, who is undecided on college but hopes to walk on a team at the next level. “I’m just grateful. We’re going to have playoffs and basketball didn’t even get to have playoffs so we’re just happy to even be able to play.”

Even better, parents have been permitted to attend home games this season to cheer on their daughters.

“I was most upset that my parents weren’t going to get to see my last season because they’ve watched me play for so many years,” Smith said. “The person that helped me start with this sport wasn’t going to get to see my last season. But I’m very happy that it’s available for my parents.”