Varsity:
OHS accommodates a myriad of powerhouse sport teams, but one of the most renowned and celebrated ones, rising to the top in recent years, has been the beach volleyball team.
Beach volleyball is a complex sport, where two players are on the court at a time. With this being said, players still compete and work together as a team towards a common goal, which they have now accomplished: winning the state title for the third consecutive year in a row. The team has been committed to building each other up on and off the court, and this has allowed them to continue their run of extremely successful seasons.
“They always say you have a target on your back, and you can feel it, but when you’re in the game it’s kind of nice,” said Natalie Gilbert, junior.
Along with learning to perform despite the constant pressure to succeed, the OHS beach volleyball program makes sure that strong connections are formed between players.
“We’re really big on being inclusive and working to build relationships within our team to make sure we stand out from other teams,” said Delaney Singleton, sophomore.
It is critical that beach volleyball players have the right mindset, especially with the countless factors that bear potential to negatively impact it.
“The hardest part of beach is probably, since there’s only two of you playing, staying mentally ready, staying really focused during the game, and if you mess up getting right back into it,” said Kate Smith, senior.
Along with practicing, training, and all other physical aspects of the game, there are also many mental details that need to be taken into account. The program has a specific way that prepares players in terms of mental preparation.
“We have a mindset coach who comes in on Wednesdays who works with all of us. We do breathing exercises and we talk about how to stay focused during games,” Smith said.
Each opposing team and each game presents a respective set of challenges that must be confronted in order for OHS to emerge victorious. Whether that be rivalries, poor weather conditions, or any other influential aspects, they all make each game a little different.
“My favorite part about playing beach is the continuous excitement because you never know what’s gonna come next,” Gilbert said.
Not only is beach volleyball connected through the court, but the players have forged strong connections among each other, on and off the court, which is important for a team to continue to move forward.
“I love building the relationship between your partners and your team, and evolving to the next level together,” Singleton said.
JV:
Overall, OHS fosters an extremely affirmative and uplifting program to allow every athlete to progress over the course of the season.
With every new year, OHS beach volleyball welcomes new players, and prepares them to compete at a high level, both through its high energy and effective training.
“I was motivated to join because the environment of the program, it’s very positive,” said Alyssa Archiello, freshman.
Along with the players, the coaches also promote connectedness within the program, the group as a whole pressing towards the goal of winning.
“Spartz is really motivating and encouraged me to take beach more seriously,” said Alexa Washington, sophomore.
Not only is it necessary for players to keep their personal mental game up, but it’s also essential for them to encourage their partner, to press forwards even when scores become tight.
“You always have to keep your partner motivated to keep going,” Washington said.
The OHS beach volleyball program creates an environment that allows its athletes to connect on and off the court.
“My team is very positive, and we’re all uplifting,” Archiello said.
