College is notorious for making or breaking the young minds that dare to enter secondary education. This is a big stressor that college students face and when you throw athletics into the mix, it seems like you’re just asking for a psychotic break down.
But, when you mention that the team they are going to play for went undefeated last year, you might as well just say hello to the winner of the most insecure, stressed out student of the year award recipient.
Ottawa University’s volleyball team went undefeated in conference during their 2012 season for the first time in school history: a perfect 18-0. Along with the conference championship, the Lady Braves Volleyball team received a giant bulls eye, which is now painted on their backs. Every team in the conference wants what they have and they will do whatever they can to take it.
Unfortunately, the lady Braves were not able to repeat their historic feat again this year due to their first loss against Friends University.
“We are a completely new team, we aren’t any better or any worse than last year. We are just different,” said junior Captain Taryn Kohn.
What she means by “new team” is not only that they are no longer undefeated, but that their roster has changed since last year as well. After the 2012, season there would only be four returning starters, leaving a big void to be filled.
The lady Braves picked up four freshman and three transfers this year in an effort to fill the spots of their fellow teammates who graduated and moved on from the program.
“The team isn’t like any other team I know,” Kohn said. “We all have different personalities which I think gives us something that is unique. Coach Symons even calls us ‘slappies’ because of the diverse groups and different personalities that we have.”
Christa Hill, a transfer sophomore from Highland Community, College found her way into the starting lineup and has done a tremendous job for the team.
“Last year I was on a team that wasn’t very good— we didn’t have any team chemistry,” Hill said. “Now that I am on a team that went undefeated only a year ago, I feel a lot of pressure to keep my spot.”
There is nothing like the pressure that college sports can put on an athlete, which at times can be a little overwhelming. The reason that so many athletes are able to make it through the pressure and stress is their teammates who form somewhat of a support system. Their teammates are going through or have gone through the same situations, which makes them able to relate and comfort the teammate.
“I feel the pressure from last year, but everyone is so welcoming that it helps numb some of it,” freshman Keri Tanking said.
“Cover Love” is something else that is new to the team this year. The term was started by the girls this year, and simply means to play unselfishly. This idea has even become the team’s theme for the year.
“To me cover love means making sure that every play I give it my all so I don’t let the team down,” Hill said. “It is something that bonds us together making us more than just team mates.”
The theme is something that the girls take pride in and they can even be heard yelling the phrase during games. This year’s team is much different than last year’s team, and they are proud of it.