This year’s girls modified volleyball team has seen extreme success through all of their hard work. Finishing the season with a flawless record, we are eager to gain insights from Coach Sarah Carney herself regarding the team’s outstanding achievements. This article adopts a Q&A format to showcase Coach Carney’s perspective on the girls and their triumphant season, offering our congratulations on their impressive accomplishments.
How do you feel about the success you have had this season?
I am not surprised by the girls’ success. They are a strong group of athletes with a dedicated work ethic. I am proud of them for staying consistent the whole season, both through their work at practice and in game play.
What did you do to prepare for this season?
Many of the girls play other sports during the off-season. I truly believe that this cross training helps them both physically and mentally on the court. They avoid overuse injuries and bring more perspective to the game. I am also quite impressed by the work some put in during the off-season. Tryouts were very competitive last year and many members of the current team did not make it their first attempt. They attended camps, clinics and open gyms to improve their skill. I am proud of them for sticking with it, putting in the extra work and coming back the following year stronger. It’s a lesson in resilience we can all admire.
What are some of your team’s highlights?
A highlight for me is witnessing the genuine support they give each other. One athlete was injured during try-outs and didn’t get to play her first game until almost a month into the season. She had been a manager the previous year, so her first game had been a long time in the making. The entire team erupted in cheers when she got to go in for the first time.
Another highlight was seeing each of the athletes develop their own leadership style on the court, something we talked a lot about. Many gained better insight to their own strengths as a leader and that was really special to witness.
Finally, winning our last game against Shenendahowa was pretty exciting. We knew it was going to be one of the toughest of the season and that it would all come down to that last game. The girls looked nervous during the first few points but quickly settled in to play great volleyball. It was amazing to watch them celebrate their win at the end.
How are you guys celebrating the winning season, and how are you going to prepare for next year?
We had a wonderful banquet last Thursday, hosted by our booster club. The athletes dressed up, ate a catered meal and reflected on the season. It was a great opportunity for them to celebrate the JV and Varsity team’s achievements and give them something to aspire to.
Anything else you want to include about your team?
This is an incredibly special group of athletes that only comes around once in a while. I enjoyed every moment of being on the court with them and I know they will go on to achieve great things in the years to come.