They are a pair of high school seniors who have forged their own identities while playing volleyball at Jacksonville.

They are Athena Teel and Lakota Flatt – two of the area’s best high school players who have emerged out of the shadows of their older siblings to lead the Cardinals in their own way.

First, introducing Flatt, not only a daughter of Jacksonville coach Catherine Flatt, but also the younger sister of Shawnee, who surpassed 1,000 assists before she graduated in 2025.

Now, meet Teel, a younger sister of Lovina, a 2024 graduate who had two successful seasons in the NJCAA ranks before transferring to NCAA Division I Arkansas-Little Rock.

Fast forward to the 2026 season, and Athena and Lakota are team captains for the second consecutive year with the difference this season being that they are seniors in their third varsity season.

“It’s been great to see them both come out from the shadows of their older sisters,” Catherine said. “I always tell them that comparing themselves to their sisters or to anybody else kills your joy. I want them to be their own players.”

And they are, the coach added.

“They are different and they play different positions. They have their own unique characteristics and their own personalities,” Catherine said. “I love that, and I am blessed to see that they are making their own names. I’m excited for these two.”

Both Athena and Lakota offered similar and contrasting perspectives when asked about the pressures of coming up behind their successful sisters.

“Honestly, I feel like it wasn’t that hard because my sister and I are really different people, even though we play the same sport,” Athena said. “I never really looked at it as ‘Oh, I’m behind her.’ I was more like ‘Wow, I’m so glad that I’m learning under her. When she first played for Coach Cat as an eighth grader, she would always come home and teach me everything. I looked up to her and she motivated me.”

Lakota also said playing with and after her sister inspired her to play hard.

“I definitely think it was good motivation to have my older sister and of course my mom,” she said. “I’d like to try to be like them or even better, but I really just want to play my best.”

Both players have certainly played at a high level. Last year, Lakota and Athena were named to the All-Big Carolina Conference team and first-team all-area. Athena recorded 214 digs and 212 kills and Lakota collected 310 digs and 200 kills.

“Athena is a strong hitter, but this year, we are putting her as a setter,” Catherine said. “As far as Lakota, I look forward to seeing all of the things she’s learned over the summer.”

And what do the players think the other brings to the Cardinals?

“I like playing with Lakota because she’s full of energy,” Athena said. “Anytime she gets a good kill, she’s ecstatic. I’ve played with her since the seventh grade and the bond that we have is super tight.”

Lakota agreed about the duo’s connection.

“We’ve had that bond since middle school,” she said. “I know how she is, not only as a good player, but also a good person. She gives me energy.”

The players hope to use that energy to lead the Cardinals. However, both said being a senior hasn’t added any pressure at Jacksonville, which opened with a four-set home win over Havelock on Monday.

“When tryouts started, I was like, ‘Oh shoot, this is my last first day,’” but I tried not to think about it,” Lakota said. “Our team has always been so close so when we’re at practice or games, we try to provide leadership, but everything just feels the same.”

No matter what grade they are, being in the gym simply feels “like nature,” Athena added.

“It really hasn’t hit me that this is my last season of high school volleyball. Being a senior really hasn’t changed anything,” Athena said. “We know we’re not the youngest on the team anymore and that we want to be good role models, but things have just kept rolling.”

Chris Miller can be contacted via email at cmiller@jdnews.com. Follow him on X @jdnsports.