Girls Volleyball Homecoming Game
A common part of high school culture is the homecoming game. However, as a school without a football team (no, flag football doesn’t count), does the school spirit of Sequoyah appear to be lower than other schools? Does having a volleyball team play the homecoming game change the purpose of the game entirely? How are the students of Sequoyah supposed to trust the volleyball team with leading a good homecoming game?
Last year, the homecoming game was played by Sequoyah’s co-ed soccer team, which is made up of hardworking players that successfully took the win. This year, however, the soccer season is being switched to the spring; with the winning season the volleyball team took home last year, it only seemed fair to let them play this important game.
According to girls’ volleyball team players, such as Bella Mejia, Violet Robinson and Willow Beuoy, this year’s homecoming game will be not only exciting, but also a big step forward for the team.
Players expressed how important the game is for the team and themselves. Robinson ’28 explained how the recognition of the team is important, as the volleyball team really loves getting the chance to play and hear support from the crowd: “It's really cool that they're doing that this year. I feel like volleyball is one of our biggest sports at the school...it's really nice for the school to get to see the team play.” While support from parents and family is amazing for the players to experience, the rallying from friends and fellow classmates increases the energy of the team and even helps players play to their fullest.
Mejia similarly says, “I feel like it's good because it gives a lot of light to [the team].” Mejia later mentions all the hard work by teammates that goes unnoticed, but should be recognized for all the time she and her teammates put into getting better at communicating and at the sport in general. Beuoy ’28,who has been on the team since freshman year adds, “I was really excited, actually, because I feel like not a lot of people come to our volleyball games … It's normally just the parents of the volleyball players. So when I heard that we were going to be the homecoming team, I was really excited.”
Since volleyball is a sport that moves fast, a big part of the game is spent looking at the scoreboard, which can add to the stress about the game. However, volleyball for the players goes beyond just the number of points each team holds, and a lot of the time these smaller moments are noticed by the people watching from the sidelines. Mejia says how supportive the players are of each other, and how this goes beyond just the talking seen on the court. Having a good mindset when it comes to communication, working well with your teammates, and providing a sturdy foundation for your teammates are all important. Robinson adds, “[You can’t see] just how hard we practice during our practices and how much people on the team are trying to improve. You can't really see that, especially because there [are] some people that just sit on the bench.” More work is put into volleyball than seen from an outside perspective. Lots of practice, as well as communication and leadership, are necessary in order to succeed and build a great team. Beuoy brings up the importance of a cohesive team, “We're all really supportive of each other and there's not a lot of conflict; we're all friends, I would [say], which is not something that is true for every team.”
Outside the hope of winning the homecoming game, players have personal goals they aim to fulfill. Mejia, who mainly works as a hitter, shares, “A personal goal I have for myself is just … being an all-around player and just improving my skills.”
The girls volleyball team holds much more than meets the eye, working harder each practice, game and play. With the homecoming game coming up, all the support that's available is needed to cheer the team on. Come to the homecoming game on October 13th at 3:30 at Jackie Robinson Community Center to support this hardworking team.