I've pulled muscles and broken bones playing volleyball, but the most significant, meaningful moment ever playing volleyball was my first time playing Varsity during my first season playing volleyball. At a disadvantage as a result of my late start to the game, I had to work overtime to become the volleyball player I am today. Unlike most of my teammates, I started playing volleyball my Sophomore year of high school, as opposed to my teammates who had started during freshman year or earlier, and most had some form of club experience. But being a quick learner, I was able to pick up on techniques and spend additional time playing the game.
Halfway through the season, I was pulled up to bench Varsity as a DS. The only underclassman on Varsity, my coach saw me as a coachable player who was ready to attend any and every practice, and he loved my natural ability to lead my JV team as a captain, despite not previously knowing a single player. In the first game that I played Varsity, we were up 2 sets to one, when my coach pointed at me and told me to sub in for our starting outside. I seriously thought it was a mistake, but he told me to get ready to serve.
When I went to serve, I didn't have any position in mind, and my goal was simply to get my standing float serve over the net and inbounds. Soon after, the ball was sent over in a tip, around 15 feet in front of where I was. I dove to the ball, managing to pancake the ball and get it up. The JV section of the stands stood up and roared. It felt like something out of a movie, that was until the setter doubled, and the point was lost. My coach subbed me back out right after this play.
As small as this moment is, I was able to remember it as the first time I was a Varsity athlete. Currently, as a Libero for an 18-open team (this is my first year playing club after my Junior season was canceled), nothing is more rejuvenating and exciting than the feeling of getting a perfect pass on a hard swing or a perfect contact on a float serve. Being a part of such a small community (that is, Boy's Volleyball in CT) provides me with a supportive group of friends who push me to play my hardest.
Regarding leadership, I have held multiple leadership positions on volleyball teams and with athletics in general. In my state, I am a part of the Student Equity Advisory Board for the Interscholastic Athletic Conference, inspiring equality and fairness across sports and demographics. On my Varsity team (as a captain/starter), I have had to lead my team through the pandemic, providing alternative practices and workouts for my team to continue to practice during our offseason. I plan to continue using my leadership skills through college, growing the game of volleyball in whatever way I can. The majority of the schools that I am applying to do not have a Varsity Men's Volleyball program. With Men's Volleyball now being the fastest-growing sport in the NCAA, I will play on a club team during college in hopes of inspiring the growth of an NCAA program at whatever school I decide to attend. I will work with my college's administration to prove that an NCAA program would be feasible, as well as rewarding for the school. Because volleyball has impacted my life so significantly, I believe that every student should have the opportunity to play volleyball in some capacity.
When people here volleyball do you think about girls. Volleyball wasn’t really a guys work and I feel like that more people should do volleyball. I live in Florida now a lot of people do volleyball here. But I first started volleyball I loved it and the minute the ball touched my hand to the digs to the kills to the aces. it was like the feeling when you touch a door and you get shot or rub your feet on the carpet in touch somebody . Volleyball change my lives in more ways than I can count. One of my favorite moments on the volleyball court when I saw the smiles oh my team is faces. We were just playing playing even tho we were losing I was fun. The thing that makes me passionate about volleyball is meeting new people, connecting with different people. Ivy volleyball as a medium used to connect/bring people together. The way that I plan to support and grow the game is to go to college, graduate, play pro volleyball, and this build 3 giant volleyball sport complexes just specifically for volleyball. I want to create a club team and a pro team to increase the number of volleyball athletes in the world. I also want to host Volleyball Academy every year to train and educate players. I know how it is, I know the problems I know the pain. But you have to make sacrifices,Like Kobe said, everything take sacrifice. If you want everything you have to give everything to give me a time to give your attention to give everything you have your body go hard and fight never stop being persistent. I was taught that there are two people in life the ones that believe in the ones that achieve, but why can’t you be both.
Malik Faisal, a prince of Saudi Arabia, said, “Life brings tears, smiles, and memories. The tears dry, the smiles fade, but the memories last forever.” In other words, the memories I have will last for my entire existence. Some have brought pain and suffering, while others still brighten my day when I recall them. Everyone has one memory that they can remember like it happened yesterday. Although many of my most cherished memories come from volleyball, one stands out above the rest. Looking back, history has proven that to see the future, one must go through the past.
Today, my dreams of being a Men's Volleyball Olympian were beginning. My 11-year-old body felt numb and could not comprehend anything happening around me. I am in line to sign up for my first volleyball camp, but this was no ordinary volleyball camp. It was my first camp. As I sign my name onto the nametag, all I can think about is what will happen these next couple of hours. Suddenly, I feel myself floating toward the gymnasium, but when I look in, those thoughts disappear. I look inside again, and I remain shocked.
I was the only guy, and looking at my mom, I asked her if she was positive this camp was for guys. She told me that she was 100% sure that this camp was for guys and that I needed to stop worrying. As I put on my kneepads and volleyball shoes, I ask my mom a couple more times, but she disregarded my questions by telling me to find someone to warm up with. I look around the gym, and I have no clue where to start, so my mom told me to start by saying "hi." After a lot of debating, I walk up to a couple of girls on the far side of the gym. When I asked to warm up with them, they looked at each other, whispered, and after a moment or two, told me that I could. After warming up, my nerves started to go down, and the rest of the camp went by too quickly. Little did I know that those two girls would become my closest friends and push me further than anyone else to reach my goals.
Since that day, my love for volleyball has been immense and continues to grow. As a twelve-year-old, I made it onto my first 18u team. Two years ago, I started playing sand doubles volleyball on a co-ed and boys team. Also, I have been playing on a 16u club team while being a co-captain. I strive to find new opportunities for myself as well as those around me. Within the past few years, I found the Iowa High-Performance Team. In 2019, I was selected to represent Iowa's Boys Select Team at the National High-Performance Tournament. I have been my school's volleyball manager for the past three years, since eighth grade. Allowing me to help others improve their game while also learning more about mine. As a freshman, I became a line judge for home volleyball games which stirred a desire to become a certified referee. Getting certified would enable me to ref any home games for students one year younger than myself. In the future, I aspire to become a high school or college volleyball coach. After I retire, I hope to open my own Sports Complex and run my Volleyball club. I also will continue to play volleyball because it is a sport for all ages.
Overall, volleyball has allowed me to become strong physically and mentally. Growing up in Iowa, it is very uncommon for a middle school or high school male student to be involved in volleyball. I also live in a small rural area where everyone focuses on football and wrestling. Since I do not participate in those activities, it has enabled my peers to label me easily. When I have rough days, it only brings me closer to volleyball because volleyball is my way of escape. The support from my volleyball community surrounds me. When I hit a volleyball, I am free. I own the world, and nothing can stop me. When I dive to dig the ball, only my imagination can stop me. My goal is to let others create memories like mine through a game that I love. I would not be the type of person I am now without volleyball because memories make us into who we are.
