Volleyball

Written by: Tenny Fitzgerald

As Country Day’s volleyball team nears the end of their season, we want to reflect on all of its amazing moments and new traditions. At the beginning of the season, the girls took time out of one of their practices to decide on the team values. After each girl narrowed down their top five, the team worked together to decide on three final values to play by this season. They decided on faith, trust, and accountability. The team says these values guided them through every game and gave them something to fall back on and hold each other accountable by. 

In addition, the girls all felt a greater emphasis on team spirit this year! From a bigger student section, to a new “Big-Little” program with the JV team, to team bonding dinners and sleepovers, the girls say this year's season was filled with so much fun and time spent together. They especially felt that team bonding activities with the JV team helped them all feel closer!

At the beginning of the season, Sophie Meyers hosted a sleepover with both the JV and Varsity teams at her house. The night was filled with games, food and so much bonding. “My favorite memory was the team bonding sleepover!” senior Caroline Semones said. The sleepover “helped me get to know people that I didn't know well, and I feel like I’m friends with the whole program now!” 

Many of the girls also emphasized their love for their new tradition of praying as a team. Senior Sophie Meyers leads the prayers on the court after warm ups, moments before each game begins. The girls say this new tradition has brought them closer together, directed their mind away from the stress and pressure of each game and reminded them of their gratitude and love for one another. 

In addition to new traditions, the team acquired a new coach this year! This new coach, Kayla King, brought new expectations and goals for the volleyball program. “One of the core values we brought into this program is that every player can serve, pass, and hit,” King says, "we've worked so hard to raise the standard and seeing those moments of success on the court makes me so proud of this team and how far we’ve come.” She says their commitment to these values “shines both on and off the court”. She prides the team in their true “player-driven, coach guided environment, where leadership and teamwork goes hand in hand.” 

Finally, a few quotes of gratitude and love for volleyball:  

” I truly love every one of these athletes. They didn’t have to trust me or my training, but they did — and that means the world to me. I also want to thank our families and administration for believing in me. Your trust and encouragement have made all the difference.” - Coach King 

“I love volleyball because I love you guys” - Senior, Avery Helmley

“I love volleyball because I've gotten to bond with so many girls.” Junior, Addison Stubbs.