Freedom High School volleyball teams consist of three levels: freshman, junior varsity (JV) and varsity teams. While the major distinction between the levels is the grade level of the players, there are many differences beyond that, from the change of mindset, the way of cooperating with teammates and managing the increasing pressures of both sport and academics.
One of the biggest challenges players encounter as they move up is learning to meet higher expectations. These are more than just improving their skills, often involving the development of strategic plays.
“On freshman and JV, we focused more on generic volleyball and basic plays. By the time we reach Varsity, the plays become more difficult, and we have to rely on each other to run them,” said junior Morgan Haber, a varsity volleyball player. “We run more advanced plays now, and it’s crucial that everyone knows their role. This makes the game both more challenging and rewarding.”
As players move through the levels, they must think more carefully about where to place the ball and how to work together at every point. This focus on team play often leads to stronger team chemistry, which is a significant component of success at the higher levels.
“The adjustment made me care more about the team than just myself,” said sophomore Daliya Ivarone, JV volleyball player who moved from Freshmen. “The higher teams have more team chemistry and dependence.”
Many players emphasize the growing importance of team chemistry as they progress. At the higher levels, players rely more on one another, not just in terms of gameplay, but also off the court. They become closer as a person, being able to trust each other. This shift can be challenging for those who are used to focusing on their skills, but it also helps them grow as a person.
“The hardest challenge for me was to build team chemistry since I was not a sociable person,” said sophomore Erin Kang, a JV player. “However, through the Freedom volleyball program, I became more sociable and also learned how to work as a team, not an individual.”
Learning to interact and communicate effectively with teammates can be difficult for introverted players at first, but it can be beneficial for success in team sports like volleyball. For others, managing their mentality under increasing pressure is a difficult part.
“The hardest challenge for me was not to overthink, which led to mistakes on the court,” Haber said. “On JV, I had to learn to trust myself and my teammates more. Now on varsity, it’s about not getting in my head, because once I do, it affects my entire game.”
As players advance to higher levels, they face growing pressure from coaches, teachers, teammates and themselves.
“Since volleyball is a team sport, I feel a lot of pressure every day to improve my game and bring the energy up for the team,” Kang said.
Kang described the internal pressure that she feels to consistently improve her skills and contribute to the team’s success, derived from the fact that every player’s contribution matters in a team sport like volleyball. For some people, growing pressure can also be motivating.
“The pressure is not always insufficient,” Haber said, .”It can be suitable as you move between levels. You start wanting to improve and to be the best, so the pressure can be good.”
Another challenging part that many players face as they move on is balancing their academic and sports work. As players move on to higher grade levels, the demands both in school and sports grow, so players must find ways to manage their time effectively.
“Keeping up with both academics and my sport at the same time is the most challenging aspect,” Ivarone said. “The expectations for the competition change because the varsity team should take the game more seriously and try harder.”
Despite the challenges, players gave words of advice to players who are preparing to try out for the volleyball team in the future.
“Be ready for everything and always hustle and be nice,” Ivarone said.
These words mention the aspects of helping succeed in high school volleyball: a positive attitude, hard work and consistency both on and off the court.
