“That’s why it was great having other freshmen on the team, because we were able to go through it all together. It was a great bonding experience.”

Some of the biggest adjustments both of the players have had to make concern volleyball, itself—the college game is significantly different from high school level. For starters, the matches are best-out-of-five instead of best-out-of-three.

“The [matches] are so much longer,” Mays says. “You get to the third game, and you’re like, whoa, we’re only halfway through.”

Mays and McKinley have also had to deal with more imposing opponents in a bigger, tougher, college game. While the two freshmen were considered tall in high school—McKinley even spent some time at middle hitter—both, at under six feet, suddenly don’t stand so tall.

“No matter who you play, there’s always bigger, stronger, and taller people,” McKinley says.

Despite the difficulties, Mays and McKinley have found their niches. Having earned starting spots at the beginning of the season, the two freshmen have established themselves as immediate forces.

McKinley is second and fourth on the team in digs per game and kills per game, respectively, and Mays ranks in the top three in per-game assists and aces.

On the road, it’s back to clashing personas: the studious McKinley does her homework on the bus, and Mays engages herself in a different hobby—sleeping.

“Anywhere I am, whatever the time of day, give me ten minutes and I’m out,” she explains.

“She’ll fall asleep curled up on a single chair,” McKinley adds.

And while the differences between the two freshmen extend even as far as their favorite Disney movies—“The Little Mermaid” for Mays, “Beauty and the Beast” for McKinley—neither can imagine a life without volleyball.

“I used to say, basketball, all the way,” Mays says. “But by my junior year [of high school], I was so in love with volleyball.”

“I’ve always loved it,” McKinley adds. “I want to spend all my days doing it.”

—Staff writer Karan Lodha can be reached at klodha@fas.harvard.edu.