Roylance signs with Spokane Falls volleyball

MOSES LAKE — Lilliana Roylance is bound for the Northwest Athletic Conference after signing her letter of intent to play volleyball for the Sasquatches at Spokane Falls Community College. Roylance said she was excited for her signing day to arrive.   

“It feels good, I went and met some of the girls and the coaches (at SFCC), and it seems like a really good community, so I'm really excited,” Roylance said.   

Roylance was joined by friends, family, teammates and coaches to celebrate her taking this next step in her athletic journey. Mavericks Head Coach Krystal Trammell said SFCC is getting a great competitor this fall.   

“They're going to see the determination, her quick arm swing, and just the knowledge of the game. They're not going to pull anything past her, because she's going to recognize any differences or any movements that (opponents) do. She's very quick to notice any changes," Trammell said.   

Trammell spoke before Roylance signed and noted that the young athlete saw interest from a lot of schools. According to Roylance, SFCC was the right choice because she wanted to remain close to home.   

“I really wanted to stay close to family. That's really important to me, and they offer dual enrollment, so I will be going to Eastern Washington University or Gonzaga (University) while playing for (SFCC) at the same time. So that really sold me on where to go, because I'll be able to get my bachelor's degree in political science while playing at a community college,” Roylance said.   

Roylance said she is excited to pursue her interests in law, politics and government over the next four years. Trammell also noted that Roylance was initially unsure if she wanted to continue playing volleyball at the college level, but her love for the game was too strong.   

“I was just thinking about it, and I think I would just miss volleyball, and I was looking into club programs that universities offer, but it wasn't going to be the same. I really wanted to be able to have the opportunity to make such a deep bond with teammates in college,” Roylance said.   

During her time as a Maverick, not only was she known for being an imposing force on the court, but she also had a knack for mind games. She typically had a stoic demeanor on the court, Trammell said, but every now and then she would show her opponents a different side of her.   

“It was fun to see, because you never see anything from her, whether she's having a good day, bad day, anything, she's just very straight-faced,” Trammell said. “Opponents aren't sure what to think of her, because she takes care of business. She's happy about it, and then she turns around and she's right back. I heard from the other coaches that she was a little scary (to them), they did not know what to expect from her.”  

Aside from missing that, Roylance will also miss the bonds she created with her teammates and coaches over the last four years. This includes Assistant Coach Ashlyn Haneberg, who has worked with Roylance since she was a freshman on the junior varsity squad.   

“When I first met my Lilli Bug, she was just this dangly little freshman, but the moment she stepped onto the court, you could see the strife that she had to be great, and just getting to know her more, you just can't help but fall in love with her,” Haneberg said.   

As she transitions into the next chapter of her athletic journey, Roylance will always appreciate Moses Lake High School as a place where she met some of her best friends.   

“I’ll definitely (miss) my team from over the years, I just really love the community and the girls that I've met through being in high school specifically, and just the high school experience with some of my best friends,” she said.  

    Moses Lake’s Lilliana Roylance tips the ball back over the net during last seasons district matchup against Eisenhower.