Four years ago, Joli Heard knew volleyball only as a game she and her friend played in the neighborhood. There was no organized team, no rules, just hitting a ball to talk and pass the time.
Today, she’s the captain of Wheatley High School’s varsity team, leading her teammates through a high-stakes senior season. Her journey began with a simple suggestion from her friend Camorra Goldsby-Randle, a nudge that changed everything.
Before volleyball, Heard was a dedicated track athlete. But when Goldsby-Randle convinced her to try something new, she reluctantly agreed.
“It was the first day of freshman year,” said Heard. “She went to the volleyball coach and told her that we both wanted to join the team and I didn’t have a clue about it. I went along with it because she was my friend and I wanted to try a new sport.”
Goldsby-Randle saw potential right away.
“I suggested Joli play volleyball because we used to play together outside my house and she was surprisingly good for her first time,” said Heard. “Joli has always been athletic and naturally good at any sport she tries, so I knew she’d be good at volleyball.”
The two friends made the varsity team as freshmen, but the transition was tough.
“Freshman year was very hard and stressful,” said Heard. “I cried a lot, sweated a lot, it was really difficult.”
At times, she thought about walking away, especially as her mother battled medical issues. Volleyball became her outlet instead.
“During the first two seasons, I learned I could do much more than what I had previously put my mind to,” said Heard. “Volleyball became a way for me to identify as a person, identify with a purpose and compete not only for myself but for my mother as well.”
Through persistence, Heard has become a four-year varsity letterman and is now a senior captain.
“I worked on perfecting my craft,” said Heard. “I stayed in the gym working after practices and asked for help when I needed it or didn’t understand coaching techniques.”
That work now fuels her leadership.
“I try to encourage my team not to give up,” said Heard. “I try to make it fun and encourage them to never let their heads down. I’ll wipe their tears if needed.”
“Joli has a natural athletic ability that translates on the court,” said Wheatley volleyball coach Testimony Garrison. “She encourages her teammates to perform their best and is determined to bring success to the team.”
Looking back, Heard knows volleyball reshaped her high school experience.
“If I hadn’t begun playing volleyball, my high school experience would have been totally different,” said Heard. “It probably would have been boring and I would have been lazy and less motivated because volleyball kept me on my feet.”
It also helped find her voice.
“I feel grateful that Camorra brought this side of me out because before I was so shy and quiet and I didn’t really know myself,” said Heard. “Now I try to be that encouraging voice for others.”
For Goldsby-Randle, watching her friend grow has been rewarding.
“It feels amazing to see how far Joli has come. I knew from the start that she was destined to do something great,” said Goldsby-Randle. “I really didn’t think my suggestion would have much of an impact on her, but I’m really grateful that it did because she found something that makes her happy.”
As Heard moves through her senior year, she hopes to continue playing volleyball at Florida A&M University (FAMU). If that opportunity doesn’t come, she still plans to attend FAMU, major in sports management and eventually pursue a career as a coach.
“I want to show other athletes that it’s possible to play volleyball even if you start with limited experience,” said Heard. “I want to be a coach that they can trust and always be able to talk to, no matter the situation.”
About Joli Heard:
Class: 2026
IG: @lifeof.starrr
Twitter: @lifeofstarrr
Position: Outside hitter and middle
Height & weight: 5-feet-6, 161 pounds
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite subjects: Math
Shout-outs: Mom, dad, friends, coaches
