Lessons Learned, Hurdles Overcome, and A Great End to an Amazing Season!

While thinking back on our season, there were a lot of pivotal moments where I saw each of our players shine. I could go on and on about our individual accomplishments but the most important theme that is usually overlooked is TEAMWORK. With that being said, the following will be a list of the lessons learned through the course of our season leading up to our 3rd place underdog victory at the 2023 Sacred Heart Volleyball Tournament.

#1 - “The Happiest Animal is a Goldfish” - Ted Lasso

It wasn’t first apparent until our first game against St. Martins who have been historically the better team. I can’t remember the exact moment but if I recall, we missed a serve and I mentioned to our team that the Happiest Animal in the world was a goldfish because of its 5- second memory span. It’s okay to feel sad and angry about a situation at the moment but don’t let it consume/affect your life. Like a goldfish, forget about it and use the learnings to move on and improve! Be Like a Goldfish 🐠Be Happy!

#2 - Talent vs. Hard Work

As a team this year, we were blessed with height, athleticism, agility, and talent. I can honestly say we were the most talented team in the league. Starting the season with three straight wins had left our egos on cloud nine. Behind the scenes, other teams were constantly honing their craft to catch up to us while our practices weren’t as productive as they should have been. This made our first loss that much more devastating both emotionally and physically. This leads to the next lesson that we learned as a team. Humility in ourselves and although we have all the talent in the world, it still takes hard work and practice to transform that into anything meaningful.

#3 Loving The Process

By now the team had gone on to a losing streak of 3 games but we had gained something much more important. It was first apparent to me when our team was eager to learn and sought advice. Whether it be blocking to serve or even passing. The engagement from each athlete was night and day from when we first started. We had stopped focusing on the end result but rather on the individual improvements each person made. We started to enjoy the process rather than focusing on the end result.

#4 Sometimes When We Win, We Lose, And Vice Versa

This would be the most important lesson we learned as a team. At the beginning of the season, we won three straight games on the record but lost as a team. We were all individually strong and individually focused. It wasn’t until the end of the season our athletes began to think about different ways to contribute to our team outside the court. This was most apparent in our last game at the Sacred Heart Tournament where we had a rematch against a team that we historically lost to. This was the most electrifying and exciting game we had played this year! Not only were our players on the court working in system and communicating, the players on the bench were also calling the balls, cheering, and adding value where we could. All of this added up to help support our team taking home 3rd place! At the beginning of the season, we started as individuals but in our final game, we really became a #Team!

#5 Believe

At the start, something that has always been a struggle for our team would be consistent serving. I am proud to say that we have come a long way from when we started, and sometimes it just takes a little bit of #belief to get us through that extra mile. By the end of the season, our team on average had increased our serving by a large percentage. With that being said, our success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our fans, families, and the Saint Andrew’s Faculty. Your encouragement, cheers, and presence at games have fueled the passion of our athletes and added an extra layer of excitement to every match. Thank you for being the heartbeat of our team!

While this season has come to a close, the memories and bonds formed will endure. As we look ahead to the future, we are filled with anticipation for the next chapter of the Saint Andrew’s Volleyball Program. The foundation laid during this season will undoubtedly set the stage for even greater achievements and unforgettable moments in the seasons to come. In closing, let's celebrate the victories, learn from the challenges, and carry the spirit of the Volleyball Class of 2023 forward.

Thank you for being an integral part of this incredible journey, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for our team!