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Not just by winning matches, but by creating a tight-knit community with his teammates.

Before the season started earlier this year, Tran took it upon himself to order and purchase 鈥淩incon/University volleyball鈥� branded polos for all of his teammates.

The gesture was a way to promote team bonding, he says, something that鈥檚 important to Tran.

But if you asked his coach or teammates about his actions, they would tell you, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just what Tim does.鈥�

鈥淭he best part is the team in general,鈥� Tran said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a community and it鈥檚 not like an individual sport and just being around a lot of great people. It鈥檚 very much a team-driven game.鈥�

The Rangers are currently 5-5 in the regular season under new Rincon/University boys volleyball coach Sean Haynes, who is also the girls volleyball coach at Sahuaro.

However, Haynes didn鈥檛 exactly expect to take the helm of the Rincon/University program.

He took the coaching position at Rincon/University at the last minute due to the school鈥檚 initial hire not being able to take the job. The boys volleyball program he inherited included more than 10 seniors, including Tran.

鈥淗e came to me early on when we were deciding what offense to run and stuff like that and he would be like 鈥楥oach, I think we should do it this way鈥� and debate it out and just have a really good conversation,鈥� Haynes said. 鈥淎nd I said, 鈥楾hank you for talking to me and willing to be brave enough to come to your coach and say, hey, I disagree with you,鈥� but have that conversation in a way that鈥檚 respectful and we could dialogue back and forth. 鈥� It was just really neat to see him stand up for himself and his team, but in a way that was just respectable.鈥�

Haynes says that Tran鈥檚 actions on and off the court show that he鈥檚 driven and caring.

This season, Tran has 388 assists, 101 digs and 28 serving aces. He鈥檚 currently No. 38 in Arizona for assists and No. 62 in the state for serving aces.

The Rangers are set to take on the rest of the 6A conference during their finals matches, including multiple games against Sunnyside, Marana and Tucson, before taking on Hamilton to wrap up the season.

The AIA Boys Volleyball State Championships begin on May 9, but the team won鈥檛 find out if they make the tournament until later this season.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to playing our region matches this year,鈥� Tran said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e haven鈥檛 won a region in a really long time. And I really wanna win before I leave. So, that鈥檇 be pretty cool. Also, it鈥檚 Coach Haynes鈥� first year (with the team), so it would be pretty awesome to win in his first year.鈥�

With his high school volleyball career coming to a close, Tran is feeling a bit sentimental about the end. But he hopes to take advantage of every moment with his team during their fight to the finish.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of sad, to be honest,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檓 gonna play volleyball in the future. But (right now), it鈥檚 just fun being around people from different age groups and stuff and being around my friends.鈥�

Tran will be fighting on in a different way this fall as he heads to his dream school, the University of Southern California after graduation. He plans to study business administration.

The uncertainty behind Tran鈥檚 volleyball future comes from him not being recruited into USC鈥檚 prestigious men鈥檚 volleyball program.

While he could鈥檝e chosen to play volleyball at a smaller school, he opted to go to his dream school instead, according to his coach.

However, Tran is open to joining a club team, which is where he got his volleyball start several years ago before joining his school team.

After college, Tran wants to launch his own startup business or work in investment banking. His interest in business and finance stems from his hobbies outside of volleyball.

During his spare time, the 18-year-old participates in the school鈥檚 investment club and is into investing in cryptocurrency. He also enjoys making social media content.

But volleyball takes up the majority of his weekly schedule, with at least 10 hours of practice each week, not including matches.

It can be difficult to balance school and volleyball some weeks, but for the most part, it鈥檚 pretty easy for Tran, who loves the sport and his team.

鈥淥ur season is doing pretty good,鈥� Tran said. 鈥淲e had a rough first few games, but it was against really good teams. So, we鈥檙e trying really hard but I think we鈥檙e doing pretty good for how we are.鈥�

Fast Five with Tim

What鈥檚 your go-to volleyball move?

As a setter, I love dumping it. I love it when the ball just like barely goes over the net and it tricks the other team.

Who鈥檚 a volleyball player you would love to play with?

Moni Nikolov (from Long Beach State University). I watch a lot of volleyball and he鈥檚 pretty cool.

What鈥檚 your favorite athletic brand?

Nike.

What are three things that are always in your gym bag?

Shoes, water and probably my jersey, so I don鈥檛 forget it during game day.

What鈥檚 your current favorite class?

Economics.