for the love of volleyball

I LOVE this sport of volleyball. I have been playing it for 20 years now and can not get enough of it. Volleyball not only keeps my body moving and keeps me active, but it has also taught me a lot about competition, teamwork, winning with grace, and losing with dignity. I’m not sure what I would have done without volleyball in my life; would I have made it through high school after my mom abandoned the family? Would I have been able to cope with all the stresses of college? would I have been able to get over the isolation and depression felt during Covid?… Maybe, but I know that volleyball has played, and is playing, a key roll in keeping me alive, sane (ish), and physically active and healthy during this crazy journey through life.

I play pickup volleyball every Tuesday in Oregon City, and have been playing at that spot for the past 15 years. I took classes at the charter school that I went to for high school where I learned the proper fundamentals and techniques, and I continued learning proper technique and fundamentals during my time at Clackamas Community College with their classes. I never played competitively during college, but shortly after, I started getting invited to local A/AA volleyball tournaments in the Portland area… Before all of that though, I was homeschooled in the country with 3 siblings, and we had a volleyball net setup outside every summer, so outdoor grass volleyball is at the very root of my volleyball career. I feel fully alive with my shoes off, sun shining, and a volleyball bouncing here and there across the net. My favorite aspect of the game is not winning or competing, it’s simply being able to PLAY with other people. Getting into adulthood, I noticed that the concept of “play” became less and less important for many adults; a distant past-time that was out of reach for many. I knew that if I wanted to have a life that I view as “successful” I would have to keep a space for “Play” at the core of that life… Volleyball has proven to help me keep that space alive and well.

Check back here to find videos of volleyball, tips, tricks, and whatever else I decide is worthy of making it to this blog.

Thank you all for checking it out, I hope you can get out and “Play” something this week!