Volleyball is an immensely popular sport across the world. In fact, in the United States it ranks as the most popular sport played among females. Volleyball is a team sport played by hitting a ball over a net as teams attempt to not let it touch the ground on their side of the net, but drive the ball towards the ground on their opponent’s side. Saint Robert School is proud to have many amazing volleyball players, including one remarkable player: seventh grader Theresa (“Reese”)… Reese’s club volleyball team won first place at a recent tournament and earned a national bid.

There are six positions on a volleyball court: outside hitter, setter, opposite hitter (right side hitter), middle blocker, libero, and left back. Reese is an outside hitter, which is a significant player for offensive strategies. Outside hitters need to be ready to adapt to different situations as the volleyball oftentimes is not where the outside hitter wants it to be. The opposite hitter, or right side hitter, is important to both offense and defense. The right side hitters receive serves from the opposite team, so they also need to be very agile. Setters need to be able to lightly touch the ball so other players can “attack.” Middle blockers are often the tallest players on the team. They are a huge part of the defense as they block the other team’s shots. Liberos can only play in the back row of the court, and they have rules that they follow, such as not attacking the ball at the net. Left back is similar to outside hitter and opposite. Left back is especially important to defense.

Together, each position works in coordination with each other to support and promote the efforts of the team as whole. Reese plays with the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club (Sting), and she is on the 13 Gold (their highest team). She explains that “practices are usually four days a week, and we cover every aspect of the game… serving, receiving, defense, everything.” Reese explains that practices vary in difficulty, but the game requires players to be constantly alert. On top of the four days at practice, team members go to the gym at least twice a week to work on “plyometrics, injury prevention, and lifting.” All in all, volleyball requires intense practice and effective technique.

All of the hard work that Reese and her fellow clubmates have put into practices this season paid off as Sting has 21 girls teams qualifying for the Junior National Championships (JNC) this season. Sting participates in a lot of tournaments. Reese’s team recently won the Badger Region Qualifier tournament. Reese explains that “We placed first in the tournament, which won us a bid.” A bid is a sort of “ticket” to the JNC. Reese’s team won a bid, which is sending them to nationals in Dallas Texas this June.

Volleyball is a complicated sport as all positions on the court require specific skills, practices are tough, and games put pressure on players, but players pull it off. Reese’s achievements are unbelievable. Reese and her team are fantastic, and Saint Robert is lucky to have her as a bobcat.

Works Cited
“USA Girls Junior National Championship Qualifiers.” Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club, Milwaukee Sting VBC, n.d., www.milwaukeesting.com/usa-girls-junior-national-championship-qualifiers/.