The Optimist

Hank Malone

Staff Writer

Two hour practices after school, eight hour weekend tournaments, two hour Saturday morning practices – quite a busy lifestyle for the South volleyball team. With all the time the girls spend together, they consider themselves family. The Junior Varsity and Varsity teams usually hold practices on weekdays from 4:30-6:30 pm and on Saturday mornings. A typical volleyball practice consists of conditioning and volleyball drills.

In order to get everyone excited for an upcoming game, the volleyball team has a tradition of marching outside after practice, and later stretching while listening to “feel-good” music. So far this season, the Varsity team has won seven games and lost six. This past Tuesday, both the JV and Varsity teams beat North in a nerve-wracking game was heavily attended by both schools. “There really are no words to describe how I felt the night we won the game,” Varsity player Kelsey Miller said. “Now that we have beaten North, our teams can really take off on a good run for the next few games.” The South volleyball team accredits their win against North to their hard work in tournaments and after school practices.

The South volleyball team truly has a family bond. Some of the girls knew each other before volleyball started, so it was easy for teammates to become friends when the season started. “We have to get along because volleyball is a team sport,” Miller said. “You can’t win the game without working together as a team.” Both the JV and Varsity teams have an excellent relationship, which should promote for a strong season.

Senior Alice Smith, a varsity team player, injured her leg in a past Saturday game. While leaning one way, and switching sides too quickly, her bottom leg went the other, and her upper leg the other. She popped her kneecap and was immediately wheeled off the court by her coach, Lisa Butcher. Although this was a terrible experience for Smith, it made for a later experience of caring and compassion, for at the North versus South game the volleyball team decorated her wheelchair with balloons and ornaments. When South beat North, Butcher rolled Alice onto the game line so that she could give the other team a high five. “I was so happy to know the team cares so much,” Smith said.

The JV and Varsity volleyball have had an excellent run so far in the season, and with their tight team bond, they could even win nationals.