The Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball team helps each other over the wall at the JROTC obstacle course on Sept. 17 as part of a team-bonding activity. Head varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott facilitated the activity with veteran members of her team. “Two seniors on the volleyball team, Catie Kiefer and Zaili Gantt, are leaders in the JROTC program. The idea to try out the obstacle course was a collaborative decision,” Scott said. “It was nice to see both Zaili and Catie take on active vocal leadership roles.” Photo by Natasha Williams
After spending the majority of the 2020-21 school year online, the CCHS varsity volleyball team has been making attempts to build relationships with one another.
Seeking athletic success in the final week of their season, the Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball team is focusing on reestablishing team bonds after a more disconnected season in 2020.
Even though the team played during the 2020-21 season, due to the pandemic there were less community building opportunities outside of practice and games, and some have seen a disconnect between the new and old members of the team.
“It’s definitely been harder to bond with the team just because we didn’t see each other in school last year at all,” setter Catie Kiefer, a senior, said. “We have a really strong senior class this year and all of us have been friends for a while. It’s definitely harder to bond with some of the newer people on the team.”
According to head varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott, during the 2021-22 season, the team has spent time outside of playing volleyball to strengthen their team bonding, and will continue to do this throughout the rest of the season.
“We started the season with a team meeting at Memorial Park, ate big slices of watermelon and walked through season expectations. A few weeks ago, the ladies met up in Five Points. We walked to Smoothie King, they treated us, had a few smoothies, then walked to the (University of Georgia) volleyball match,” Scott said. “We’ll assist with the pumpkin patch at Milledge Ave. Baptist Church, and the ladies are looking forward to scaring me at Zombie Farm.”
In addition to spending time with each other outside of school, the team builds their strength and relationships during practice by bonding through activities such as running the JROTC obstacle course at CCHS.
“I love that (for the obstacle course), the team has to depend on the teammate in front and behind them. Each individual has to (work to) problem-solve together. The clock doesn’t stop until the entire team has crossed the line,” Scott said.
“We have two sophomores on the team (and the) bonding activities really helped me get to know their personalities.”
— Zaili Gantt,
Varsity outside hitter and senior
Varsity outside hitter Zaili Gantt, a senior, feels these activities have helped her reach some newer players.
“I got a chance to get to know some of the members I didn’t know before,” Gantt said. “We have two sophomores on the team (and the) bonding activities really helped me get to know their personalities.”
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