Shane's World
I went to both of this past weekend’s volleyball matches, and I must say, several things caught my eye.
This year’s Emporia State volleyball team is fantastic. Their athleticism and discipline amazes me each time they hit the court. It’s quite a sight seeing six to 10 individuals work together so magnificently to achieve one common goal. However, I firmly believe there are other key factors that attribute to the huge success the Hornets have seen thus far.
Unfortunately, accountability is something few people understand in this day and age. This is exactly what the ESU volleyball team has by the truckload. After watching great play after great play, there are times when things don’t go so well for the Hornets – yet they never play the “blame game” and get down on themselves.
If someone makes an error, they’re always quick to take responsibility for the mistake and say something along the lines of, “My bad.” The team regroups in a quick huddle and moves on to the next play.
While it may seem like something that’s so minute it wouldn’t really make a difference, holding yourself accountable can ease the tension off of others and keep morale on an even keel. It’s fascinating to me that six people can forgo their egos for a split second in their lifetime for the better of the unit. There aren’t many other places in this world where such an event is possible.
Another thing – the volleyball team has been so successful due to strong communication throughout the entire match.
I’ll be honest: Ft. Hays didn’t have too much going for them during last Saturday night’s match against the Hornets. There was obviously a breakdown in communication several times throughout the match for the Tigers; this rarely happens with ESU. In the midst of the chaos of everyone flying to the ball and setting up the play, every player knows where they and their teammates are on the court at all times.
A sophisticated, yet somehow simple understanding of what to do next in any given situation really sets this team apart from many other teams in the MIAA, maybe even in the nation.
Verbalized communication is a necessity in most walks of life – this is ever so apparent in college sports, particularly volleyball. Go watch an Emporia State volleyball match, and you’ll quickly see what I’m talking about. I’m not sure if this is initiated by the coach or if it’s just instinct, but wherever it is coming from, it most definitely gives the Hornets an edge in every single match.
It surely takes a keen eye to catch some of the less noticeable yet incredibly meaningful subtleties displayed by the Hornets during a volleyball game, but if you take the time to look carefully, it’s easy to see why this ESU volleyball team is so special. The sky’s the limit for this group of ladies.
Shane Wilson
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