In the frenzy of intense matches and long rallies, senior middle blocker Julia Horan makes sure to be vocal with her teammates on the varsity girls volleyball team. Having recently committed to the University of Cincinnati, Horan looks to pursue a future career in volleyball.
However, playing volleyball was not always in the cards for Horan. She comes from a basketball family, with her mother having played at Boston College and Fairfield University, her father also at Fairfield and her brother, Connor, currently playing at Iona University.
“I never tried basketball, but I knew it wasn’t for me after watching it for so many years,” Horan said. “My mom really wanted me to try volleyball, so I figured why not give it a chance and see where it takes me.”
Horan began on the JV team as a freshman before playing varsity for the next three years. Her accomplishments include earning First Team All-District and Second Team All-Region honors as a junior and Second Team All-District recognition as a senior.
“Her biggest contributions to the team have definitely been her height and her ability to play her position really well,” senior and teammate Sarah Kim said. “She has a lot of volleyball IQ and is able to make a lot of points because of her athleticism. Her leadership on and off the court has also been a large contribution because people respect her input and advice.”
In the 2024-25 season, Horan led the team to winning district and regional titles and finishing as the state runner-up. She ended her junior season with 132 kills and 84 blocks and also competed for VA Juniors Volleyball Club, a competitive travel volleyball program based in Northern Virginia for young female players.
“The best part about being on a team is the special relationships made along the way,” Horan said. “Every team I have been a part of over the years is always different, but each new team allows me to meet new people who share the same passion for volleyball. We did a few team bondings this year and those are always fun when everyone is together with a team full of so many personalities.”
According to MaxPreps, Horan led the CHS team with the highest hitting percentage and the second-most total blocks in the 2025-26 season. Along with her talent and personal drive, Horan also prides herself on being reliable and dependable to her teammates.
“I hope others see me as a contributor and someone who is dedicated,” Horan said. “I always like to give and not take away and not do things without a purpose or to my fullest potential.”
Horan officially committed to the University of Cincinnati, a Division I school, on Nov. 15. While not nationally ranked, UC joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023, now more often facing Top 25 ranked opponents. According to the University of Cincinnati Athletics, she was selected for her depth, speed and capability to strengthen their offensive line.
“I’m very excited to see her play in college,” senior and teammate Apria Smith said. “I know she’ll fit right in and she puts in so much dedication and effort that she deserves it.”
