EHS Pillars - Fall 2017

Bright Knights
MYLANA BYRD '18
Talent That Works
Mylana Byrd discovered volleyball through family. "Playing volleyball enticed me because my cousin
and mom played and loved it. I knew I would too." She started playing volleyball at 10 years old when
she tried out for her cousin's club team. The director of the club saw her potential, so he gladly took
her on. Even though Byrd was redshirted and participated primarily in practices, she didn't give up.
Fast‐forward four years to Byrd's volleyball career at EHS, a team for which she has started since
her freshman year of high school. The athletic accolades Byrd has earned while at Episcopal are
numerous and include Houston Chronicle's Athlete of the Week, a 2016 and 2017 Phenom Watch List
athlete, and a 2017 Under Armor All‐American Candidate. As Coach Watts describes her on the court,
"Mylana is one of our captains who not only plays quarterback when she's on the back row, but puts up
a wall on defense and is a huge offensive threat on the front row. She's anywhere we need her to be."
This year, her final year at EHS, Byrd helped bring home the SPC championship, which has not been
done in nearly 20 years.
After meeting and working with many cohorts of talented volleyball players, Byrd found her team in
2016—a group of girls who shared her commitment, love, and drive for a sport they hope to play in
college. For Byrd, that college will be the University of Alabama, which she committed to the summer
before her junior year. When she walked on the 'Bama campus, talked to the coach, and met the
players, she knew it would be her next home.
To Byrd, volleyball is more than a sport. It's family, fun, and her future. "I love the game because I thrive
on competition. My whole family does. Volleyball allows me to be successful and have fun. It gives my
life meaning and allows me to set goals I can achieve. My goal every day when I wake up is to better
myself so I will beat the person across the net." Byrd hopes to one day play for the Olympics.
On the court, Byrd embodies one of her favorite quotes, made famous by Kevin Durant when he was
named National College Basketball Player of the Year in 2007: "Hard work beats talent when talent
doesn't work hard." She applies this adage to every part of her life, including her work at EHS. "Mylana
not only dominates on the court, but she takes care of business in the classroom, earning Honor Roll
all four years she's been at EHS. She has exemplified what it means to be a student‐athlete," says
Coach Watts.
"EHS has taught me how to push myself in the classroom and on the court. Teachers really care about
their students and want them to succeed, and have fun while doing it."
10
—Emma Tsai