Buford High School Volleyball Player Payton Danley Named ITG Next Georgia Female Athlete of the Month for August 2023
Earlier this month, ITG Next asked you to vote on which female Georgia high school student-athlete was going to make the biggest impact in 2023. We presented four outstanding nominees who are all poised to enjoy breakout seasons this year. The nominees, all volleyball players, were Grace Agolli, Pace Academy; Payton Danley, Buford; Sophie Katherine-Harvey, Pope; and Logan Kalinowski Allatoona.
Congratulations goes to Payton Danley – our August 2023 ITG Next Georgia Female Athlete of the Month, presented by Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance – who received the majority of the votes. Danley is a senior at Buford High School and a two-time state champion as a member of the Wolves.
“I’m so honored for this recognition,” Danley said.
Christina Lecoeuvre, head varsity volleyball coach at Buford, said Danley is a “servant-leader on and off the court. Payton loves Jesus, her family, and volleyball. She started playing volleyball in middle school and fell in love with the sport. She has grown stronger both physically and mentally. She is explosive and can hit the ball from anywhere on the court.”
Even though Danley began learning to play volleyball in middle school, she said her first full year of experience didn’t come until her ninth-grade year.
“My first year playing club volleyball was the Covid year, and the season ended early, so I never got a solid season until my freshman season in high school,” she said.
Danley started off playing as a right side, but as her skills developed, she was placed into the middle, where she played for the majority of her high school career. She began training as an outside with her 17 club’s season. She said she feels comfortable playing either position, and she’ll play wherever she is needed.
“I wouldn’t say I have a better position between the two,” she said. “I feel like I’m well-rounded in each one.”
In addition to working with her current coach, Lecoeuvre, Danley credited two other coaches she has worked with for her development.
“I would credit my club and high school coaches, coach Tim Walker at A5G and coach Hadli Daniels at Buford, for helping me become a well-rounded player in each position and developing me not just physically, but also mentally,” Danley said. “Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Danley is preparing for her senior season with the Buford volleyball team, and with several key losses to graduation, the team will be counting on her for that senior leadership Lecoeuvre spoke of.
“After losing eight seniors last year, this could be a growing season for our team here at Buford,” Danley said.
Danley has committed to Lee University in Cleveland, TN, but first her coach is looking forward to another great season from the senior standout, both on and away from the court.
“Payton isn’t just a two-time state champion, she is a scholar-athlete as well,” Lecoeuvre said. “She received the Gwinnett County Scholar Athlete Award last year and is looking to do the same this year.”
With Payton Danley serving as one of the team’s senior leaders, Buford will be seeking its fourth straight state title, which would be Danley’s third straight as a player. As of the last week of August, the 2023 Wolves volleyball squad is 10-5 overall.
