Lindsey Dean is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cactus High School for AZPreps365.com. 

GLENDALE -- In the crowded gymnasium of Cactus High School, all eyes are on the volleyball team’s outstanding sisters, Jadyn and Ziara Pauli. Both starters, they’ve become the heart of the team.

Jadyn, a senior and team captain, has been a long-time leader for the Cobras, while her younger sister, Ziara, a freshman, is just beginning her high school journey.

Despite their three-year age gap, this year is their first - and only - season playing together.

For the Pauli sisters, volleyball has been a constant for as long as they can remember. Both began playing when they were in elementary school. Jadyn began her volleyball career in sixth grade, with little sister Ziara following in her footsteps shortly after playing at the YMCA together. They now compete year-round playing for the Boltz Volleyball Club on separate teams for the past four years, with volleyball being their only sport.

“Our family is just volleyball 24/7. From July to June we are traveling for club, practicing, going to tournaments,” said Karen Pauli, mother of the two sisters. “This year we only had a three-week break between their seasons. We are all about volleyball. All the time.”

For seven years, they practiced together, attending the same tournaments and cheering each other on from the sidelines, but they never had the opportunity to compete on the same team until now.

“I was hoping she would make varsity this year so I could play with her,” Jadyn said. “We have never actually played together, just on and off the court practicing, but never on the same team before. So I was really excited to play with her.”

Ziara quickly earned her spot as a starter, displaying a level of confidence and skill that exceeded expectations. She doesn’t shy away from the spotlight, even though she’s a freshman on a team led by talented upperclassmen.

Last year, as an eighth grader, Ziara attended camps and open gyms for Cactus girls volleyball where she was able to compete on the varsity team, even before trying out this year.

“We were so excited to have Ziara on the team this year,” Cactus coach Jana Henige said. “We had been watching her for the last couple years. Actually the year before, she came to our summer camp and she was playing with the high school girls on the varsity court the entire time as a (rising) eighth grader.”

Jadyn and Ziara Pauli huddle together with their teammates during a time out in the first set at a home game against Estrella Foothills on Oct. 9.  (Lindsey Dean photo/AZPreps365)

Their connection is palpable on the court. Ziara, an outside hitter, and Jadyn, the starting setter, have an unspoken chemistry that gives Cactus a competitive advantage. Their communication is seamless, knowing exactly where each other is without even having to speak. It’s the kind of bond that only comes from years of growing up and practicing together.

“They do seem to have this natural chemistry,” Henige said. “They play off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They don’t even have to talk that much, they just know. They seem to know where each other is at all times.”

That natural chemistry has been key to the Cobras’ success this season. The Cobras (8-6) have won five of their last seven games, continuing to improve the second half of their season as they look forward to postseason play. Whether it’s Ziara delivering a powerful kill or Sarah setting her up with pinpoint accuracy, their on-court synergy is undeniable.

Henige sees Jadyn as the heart of the team, recognizing her as a standout leader on and off the court. As captain, Jadyn's leadership isn’t just about giving direction, it's about leading by example. Her influence, especially on younger players like Ziara, has been instrumental in shaping the team’s culture and success this season.

This leadership extends naturally to Ziara, who has flourished under Jadyn’s guidance. The way Jadyn balances being both a mentor and a teammate to Ziara has helped forge a unique bond on the team.

“Jadyn is one of the best captains I have ever had,” Henige said. “She is a quiet leader. It doesn’t matter who it is, she’ll lead, but I do think with her sister that she is good in all aspects. She is able to balance being an older sister and leading the team.”

They seem to anticipate each other’s movements without the need for verbal communication. It’s a connection built on years of practicing together, pushing each other to improve, and understanding each other’s tendencies. Volleyball has always been a driving force throughout their lives, helping to bring them closer by supporting each other like no one else can.

“To be honest, they really are like best friends,” their mother said. “I think they have their normal sisterly stuff, but for the most part, they always want to be together. They want to do the same things together.”

Ziara Pauli (right) plays with older sister Jadyn Pauli's (center) hair to show her support during a home game this year against Estrella Foothills. (Lindsey Dean photo/AZPreps365)

Their connection goes beyond the court. Growing up they had always been best friends, but this season has brought them even closer together.

“She definitely helps me get through everything,” Ziara said. “If I do bad, she is always there to comfort me and I know I am the same for her. We have gotten a lot closer this year being able to go to school together and play with each other every day.”

As the season progresses, they both know the clock is ticking. Jadyn will graduate at the end of the year, and Ziara will continue her volleyball journey without her sister by her side. But for now, every serve, set and kill is a reminder of the special moment they’re living.

Although, it is all of the moments off the court that Ziara and Jadyn will cherish the most.

“I am going to miss all the pregame stuff most,”Jadyn said. “Like going out to eat before a game or driving home from a game talking about how we did. And like her seeking advice from me, that’s something I am very proud of. Even though she’s played the same position as me and knows the game very well, it makes me happy that she still looks up to me.”

For the Pauli sisters, this one season is about more than just wins and losses, it’s about family and the rare opportunity to share their love for volleyball on the same team. As they step onto the court for each game, they do so knowing this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience - one that neither will forget.