Freshman Sofia Silberfeld stands frozen on the court, as a ball was spiked to her feet by the opposing team. She retreats to the huddle, looking to her teammates for reassurance. Now, four years later, Silberfeld stands on the court confidently, becoming one of few to pass the 1,000-assist milestone.

“I realized that playing against 18-year-olds meant that I had to adjust and grow up quickly,” senior Sofia Silberfeld said.

Silberfeld said she took this realization to heart and began to look for ways to improve. She said she had to dial in and face the reality that she would be facing intense competition.

Silberfeld played basketball from kindergarten to fifth grade, but once she picked up volleyball, the rest was history. She immediately found herself attached to volleyball, putting basketball behind her.

“I never really had a passion for playing basketball, but as soon as I picked up a volleyball, I knew it was for me,” Silberfeld said. “I immediately fell in love with the sport.”

Silberfeld achieved 1,000 career assists on Sept. 13, as the Cats swept Poolsville in three sets. The Cats continued their clean sweep, as they didn’t drop a set in their first six games.

“In my seven seasons coaching at Walter Johnson, this is a first,” head coach Jackie Krampf said. “1,000 high school career assists is an amazing milestone. I would describe her as a quiet leader and definitely a player the team turns to when the competition gets intense. Her teammates look to her and trust her to run the offense. I’m very proud of her growth as a volleyball player and as a leader on the team.”

The Silberfeld family wants to continue their impact on WJ girls’ volleyball, as Sofia’s sister, Ellie, joined the team this season.

Ellie is proud of what Sofia has accomplished both on and off the court, as she’s seen Sofia’s drive and effort firsthand.

“It is a huge accomplishment for Sofia and I am really proud of her,” Ellie Silberfeld said. “It took time, skills, and hard work to get there. I also see it as a personal challenge to reach that mark during my time at WJ.”

The volleyball team is already halfway into their season, and the freshman already has 53 assists. Ellie looks to make an impact equivalent to her sister’s while on the WJ girls’ volleyball program.

“The legacy I hope Sofia and all of our seniors leave behind is a tradition of competing hard and winning at WJ,” Ellie Silberfeld said. “This is a special team and what we do together will set the tone for years ahead.”