Lifelong friends play final Bishop England volleyball game

From preschoolers to high school seniors at Bishop England, volleyball captains Juliana Gallo and Grace Stroud have been by each other's side, literally, for almost their entire lives. 

The classroom chums first met in 3K at the O'Quinn School and forged a friendship through princess-themed birthday parties, then travel clubs and middle school games before eventually teaming up at the high school level against some of the state's toughest competition. 

Both made Bishop England’s junior varsity volleyball team in eighth grade while at Christ Our King-Stella Maris before advancing to the Bishops' varsity squad as sophomores. 

While at Bishop England, both joined 1,000 clubs: Gallo with more than 1,000 career assists, Stroud with more than 1,000 career digs. The pair also earned numerous all-conference and all-region honors and, alongside their BE teammates, advanced to the 2025 South Carolina championship, finishing as runner-ups. 

The pair played their final high school volleyball game last week with a loss in the third round of the state playoffs. But their friendship will endure. 

"For their families and those who have watched them grow, seeing the girls progress from preschool friends to senior captains has been a special journey," said Gallo's mother, Tanya Gallo. "Their journey is a reminder that some of the most meaningful rewards of youth sports are not just the milestones reached or the championships won, but the friendships built along the way."