Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week: Gulfport Volleyball’s Lynde “Izzi” Barnes!

Serve, Block, Kill, Repeat. These are the words and actions that this week’s student athlete lives by, and does an absolutely outstanding job doing it too. She truly looks the part of a volleyball player, but it’s her heart and work ethic that shine the brightest.

Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, Gulfport’s middle hitter Lynde “Izzi” Barnes.

“It’s basically get up, and terminate basically. Put the ball away.”

That was senior standout and Gulfport’s middle hitter Izzi Barnes. Looking at someone her size and the athletic ability she has at the net, you’d think she’d been playing volleyball since birth.Instead, it was her coach of another sport telling her to try it out just four years ago. 

“The head coach, I was trying out for basketball and he said I should definitely try volleyball,” said Barnes. “I had no idea what it was, so I was like yeah sure it sounds fun. My mom and aunt played it so I was like yeah I’ll try it.”

Many people are glad she tried it, including second year Head Coach Resi Fitzgerald.

“It makes me very confident when Izzi is on the court as I also have a lot of confidence in all my other hitters,” said Coach Fitzgerald. “Izzi is our offensive terminator, so anytime she’s on the court we look to find her the ball. She’s a leader on the bench when she’s not on the court also.”

An offensive terminator to say the least. She currently leads the Admirals in aces, kills, and kills per set, but she doens’t take all of the credit. She says none of it would be possible without her setter, Lily Trosclair.

“She’s the only setter I’ve ever had except for one year of club,” said Barnes. “She’s been my setter for all three years of my club and school career. Having that connection is just wonderful. It’s like whenever you don’t even have to talk, it’s just there and it’s beautiful.”

Trosclair isn’t the only player Barnes has a strong connection with, but the entire Gulfport team. She doesn’t describe them as teammates, but as her family.

“It’s awesome. It’s like a family, Barnes said. “It’s like they’re all teammates but at the same time it’s your home. Even when you get out of school it’s the best place to be.”

“Izzi is what we call a gym rat,” said Fitzgerald. “She wants to be in the gym 24/7 whether it’s in season or out of season. She’s constantly training to make improvements. She always wants feedback not only from her coaches but her teammates as well.”

The time spent in the gym and feedback applied was more apparent than ever in July, as Barnes was named the Most Outstanding South Player during the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star game where she had 12 kills and 3 blocks.

“It was awesome. I really didn’t expect to get it because it was such a great group of girls and they were all really inviting and it was a great time. I thought we all deserved it. We all played well,” said Barnes.

Barnes still has time to shine in the postseason, but when she does hang up her blue and orange jersey, she hopes to leave behind a legacy and play at the next level.

 “I hope to leave behind the effort. I feel like this year we have a lot of effort. We have a will to get better and just good attitudes and great mindsets,” Barnes said. “I would like to play in college somewhere in the future. Going to junior college and then a four year college.”

There’s no reason to wish her senior year away as she’s currently preparing for her final postseason campaign. We wish her and the admirals the best of luck as playoffs start next week!