By Tess C and Keira B Grade 9
It has been a spectacular season for this year’s 2022 Autumn volleyball teams!
To start the night off, the PAC filled to the brim with dedicated athletes and their number one supporters! An air of suspense clung to the room while the volleyball teams waited to be called up and have the winners of the MVP and coaches’ awards revealed.
The JV Girls in the SCIS Tournament (Photo: Private)
Varsity Girls volleyball
Starting strong, we heard from the ISST 3rd place Varsity girl volleyball captains, Louise S, Grade 12 and Catherine N, grade 11 about their season.
Any player of a team sport knows the importance of a strong team, and Louise and Catherine told us what made the varsity girls so successful this season.
Catherine finds having fun every practice helped their team to be “united, and a united team is a good team.”
For Louse it is showing respect, not just within their team, but also towards the opposing teams and their coaches.
“Good sportsmanship, being there to support each other, on the court or off the court,” Louise said.
The varsity girls had two coaches this season, Coach Erik, and Coach Verhoeven. The captains described them as “opposites” Louise saying that “they’re a really good team.”
Louise tells us Coach Erik’s energy was contagious.
“He’s really funny which brings a lot of energy to the court, but also professionalism because of his playing experience,” Louise said.
But Coach Erik was balanced out by Coach Verhoeven.
“She pushed us a lot, by maybe being a bit stricter at times, but she pushed us to be our best and work hard.” – Louise
However, the varsity team did not only work hard, but played hard. Louise and Catherine shared their funniest highlights of the season, barely making it through a fit of laughter.
“When we were in Frankfurt, we were all hanging out in the hostel lobby, me and Louise went around and just ‘pantsed’ everybody,” Catherine said. “That was the best trip, it was very chaotic and the most fun.”
“Also, our 11-hour bus ride from Vienna, where I have to say, there were burgers thrown at us, with and without the wrapper,” Louise said.
Both captains were asked who they thought the MVP award would go to. Catherine gave her answer first, thinking for a moment.
“Well, I think it’s going to be Louise,” Catherine said. “She always brought up the energy and she was the one who was on the court the most. There were moments where sometimes I would mess up and get frustrated, but Louise, would be like ‘all right guys, that was my fault we’ll start again.”
But, Louise said Catherine should be the one to get the prestigious award, having won the tournament MVP at ISSTs.
“I think it’s going to be Catherine because obviously she’s amazing at hitting and she is just always there, always consistent and she helps to support everybody,” Louise said.
Catherine and Louise were very accurate in their predictions. Catherine was awarded the MVP later that night while Louise was given the Coaches Award.
Varsity Boys Volleyball
The captain of the boys volleyball team, Jakob T, Grade 12, said team spirit was crucial for his team this year.
“A lot of us are friends outside the team,” Jakob said.
Jacob believes that it is important to be friends outside of the court. He stressed the importance of feeling a sense of belonging, being one collective unit to further their ability to trust and cooperate.
“It’s important to have a positive environment,” Jakob said. “The coach plays a big role in that as well.”
The varsity boys were very close with their coach, Jakob said.
“Mr. Pados made this a positive experience for us, making sure there were no outsiders, and the grades and abilities were mixed,” Jakob said.
A moment that Jacob found particularly amusing was during one of their trips.
” We were down 2-0 (sets) and we came back 2-2,” he said.
In a moment of panic, as the opposing coach was threatened by a loss, she “decided to quit and cancelled the game completely, she just walked out!”
JV Girls Volleyball:
Captain of the JV Girls Volleyball team Keira B., Grade 9, plays many sports and highlighted the significance of good teamwork.
“I think a good team, especially in volleyball, is a team that trusts each other and has good chemistry,” Keira B. said.
After a long night at the hostel, the girls had to wake up early to play in the SCIS tournament. Their energy was high, and they were able to win the sportsmanship award.
“There were mistakes that were made which shouldn’t have been made by some players,” Keira B. said.
To end the season, the last step is deciding the MYP. The JV girls took a poll on whom they predict it to be.
“I believe Tess deserves the MVP for our team because she always showed up, was a consistent player and I could trust her with any kind of receive to set the ball high and make it playable,” Keira B. said.
75% of the JV girls agreed with this prediction. Though with Keira’s leadership qualities and determination to always get the ball, even if it means getting on the ground, she was awarded the MVP.
The coach’s award was granted to Nina who showed up to every training and consistently pushed herself and the team.
JV boys volley
Max H, grade 9, the captain of JV boys Volleyball believes that “if the team has a good spirit, that makes a strong team.”
He explains that his team had a close bond and ultimately one collective spirit, acknowledging the positive impact it had on their team.
Max said he thinks Coach Adela had a “very good analysis of the opposing teams and their weaknesses” that he feels greatly advantaged their team.
The highlight of Max’s trip was on an overnight trip. Although leaving the hostel was not allowed, pizza seemed like a good plan for the majority of the JV team.
“When there were six people in one bed, yeah,” Max said. “And then we went out to get pizza, that was fun.”
Ally B, Grade 10 was awarded the MVP for his team, voted by the other players.