With the microphone not working, Art Walker placed it down and let his voice do the work, leading his and Seton Catholic’s fans in prayer before a varsity volleyball match this week.

We are starting to hear from St. John Paul II High School in Avondale.

The school is in its second year serving the far West Valley and first year as an Arizona Interscholastic Association member. Next year, it’ll join a 2A Conference region for the first time.

In the meanwhile, the school is freelancing as an independent program. It’s doing so with strong leadership, an optimistic approach and Catholic-based teachings.

Walker is JP2’s athletic director, but at small schools the job of athletic directors doesn’t end and start with just athletics. Walker and his wife were sitting just outside the school’s gym greeting volleyball fans as they walked in to watch JP2 play sister school Seton Catholic.

Walker grew up in California but did his share of travelling while in the Air Force and teaching and coaching at different stops, including in basketball hotbed Indiana.

“Once I got into teaching I knew it was my calling,” he said. “I was looking for my niche and found it here at St. John Paul II.

“It’s a constant hustle, but we have a great leader in Sister Mary Jordan Hoover, our principal.”

In Year 2, JP2 is already at 15 sports programs, serving a student body of about 225 without any seniors.

All of its programs will play varsity schedules in 2019-20 with the exception of football. Football’s first varsity game will come next year and first home game will likely be in 3-4 years when a stadium is built.

But that didn’t keep about 150 football fans from attending the team’s last “home” game at a nearby high school, Walker said. This week, despite playing one of the top-ranked 4A volleyball teams, Seton Catholic, JP2 didn’t get discouraged.

JP2’s girls kept smiling after dropping the first two games to a more stronger team. JP2’s volleyball program is led by probably the youngest volleyball coach in the state, 21-year-old Arrianna Ramirez.

Ramirez, a former volleyball player at Bourgade Catholic, is learning right along with her players. This is her first job coaching.

“I had to get out of my player perspective and get to a coaching perspective,” Ramirez said. “I went to clinics and did my homework. This is a small school, but it brings unity since we all know each other.”

That unity as well as spunk was on display in the third game against Seton Catholic.

A Sofia Helser kill and Faith Basiolio’s corner ace left the game tied at 11-11. A Helser kill off a block lifted JP2 to a 15-14 lead.

Ramirez said her team likes to dance during practice. Well it was really getting its groove on while battling Seton Catholic in the third game.

JP2 eventually lost the game 25-21 but received some well-deserved praise.

“They (JP2) were really scrappy at the end, and they didn’t give up,” Seton Catholic coach James Johnson said. “That was impressive. We got a lead there in the beginning. They kept playing. They kept smiling. I think one of the things our team does is try to have fun and I saw them do that. (JP2) kept it fun and I think that keeps the girls relaxed, and that’s why they were able to succeed in the third game.”

The JP2 sisterhood continued to show after the match thanks in part to one of its fans.

Helser’s grandmother makes cookies and everybody on the team receives one after matches.

“Everybody knows everybody here,” Helser said. “Every person I pass at school I say ‘Hi’ to. Everyone is so kind. I feel like everybody is my friend. It’s such a close knit community and that carries on to the court. We are all like best buds.”