And so another school volleyball season has come to a close.
Today was the last game for Sydney’s Freshman Volleyball team. She ended the season same as she started it, starting in the Libero jersey. She would only start one other time this season, and that was when the Varsity coach took over for the Freshman coach when he couldn’t make it to the JV tournament. I think the most bizarre aspect of a season of high school volleyball was the continued struggle to try to understand the plan, and to figure out whether a coach is going to support our player, this year, next year, or not. I remember playing and it wasn’t a given if you made the team every year but it also wasn’t a complicated mystery either. You felt pretty good about it, or you just sort of stopped. Coaches were tough, and sometimes they were fair, sometimes they weren’t but everyone knew they belonged if they were handed a jersey. Not so much at this school.
Still, Sydney had a great year. She played the position she was asked to play, in the role she was asked to play, and she performed really well. Her team mates recognized her play even when the coach didn’t and along the way; sometimes, there was encouragement from other coaches too. Those moments I think were the parts that helped her keep moving forward through each practice and each game. Hers was a name that was being mentioned through the other team levels: one because of her play, and then because of her personality. Her humor and her compassion were noted, but so was her stinging truth that didn’t much care what a Varsity player thought. My kid doesn’t walk around slinging arrows, but let someone lob a volley her way and she is quite adept at slinging them back with force and precision.
But for all the incredible plays, the ace serves, and the stuff that didn’t go as planned; I will remember this year for her big heart. The Varsity girls chose a freshman girl to be a big “sister” too. More than likely, Sydney was chosen last because of her connection to her sister and that teams connection to Madison. However it happened, Sydney’s name was picked up by a sweet, and really excellent volleyball player who happened to also be out for a concussion. In a way it was kind of sweet since Sydney started the summer session with a concussion herself. Anyway, this poor girl has been out of school for months and has missed the majority of her Senior year Varsity volleyball because of hers. But in all time that Sydney watched all the other Freshmen got their little gifts from the Varsity players each home game, only once did she say it was kind of a bummer, but also said it was okay that she didn’t.
At the last home game, Sydney took the time to speak with a family friend of her big “sister” to learn some of the things that she likes. This weekend, she went to the mall with her friends, and while she was there she bought things with this girl in mind - things that Sydney hoped would bring comfort to her. The last things we put in her gift bag was a super soft blanket and a card, then Sydney handed everything off to the family friend for delivery. Here’s hoping that she feels some joy from the gifts and not just in that ‘it’s the thought that counts’ but in that she actually enjoys some of the things that were chosen for her, and might even help her feel better along the way.
I was worried about this team. I was worried that the lack of compassion, the disinterest would somehow taint my daughter’s spirit. But the Freshman team spun in their own circle, and the girls were kind and respectful, keeping their dislikes to themselves or in small private groups. To each other we saw respect and patience. And though they all agreed that the Varsity girls were really horrible, they still tried to cheer them on and be a presence for them.
I worried about my kid, but she did well. Sydney has a tough skin, she isn’t one to shirk from confrontation but she’s also not one to be mean or belittle someone. Over all, her play was excellent, and her attitude and her sportsmanship were excellent as well. She brought dignity, respect, humor, compassion, and kindness to her team and her coaches - I am extremely proud of her. Her team finished tied for first, and that’s pretty good too. But at the end of the day, Sydney proved her character and that’s the most important thing.
Who knows what the next year will bring, but for now...a nice note to end on and prep her transition to Club ball. For us, Club season is something we look forward to because then we get to watch both our girls play a sport they love, and we love watching them! For now, we just move forward to the next thing and we’ll follow Sydney’s lead as she determines if she wants to try out for High School ball next season or not. She doesn’t really have a good relationship with the notion of quit...so I imagine we’ll be stressing through tryouts again next year. Sigh....
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