Last week we played in the Las Vegas Classic Volleyball Tournament, and it was an experience that I will never forget. Our team went into the first day undefeated, with a 3-0 record, and we were looking strong. However, on the tournament’s second game, our setter and outside hitter sprained her ankle and was out for the rest of the weekend. Despite this setback, our team made the necessary adjustments and still managed to go undefeated for the day.

We were so excited.

But the second day of the tournament brought even more challenges. We found out that our other setter and outside hitter got extremely sick and had to leave before we even played the first game on day two..

Now our team was down two key players, and my coach asked me to play setter, a position I hadn’t played in a few years.

The next two matches were intense and went to three sets each. Unfortunately, we lost both games, but we managed to regroup and win our final match in three sets.

Overall, this experience taught me so much about teamwork, resilience, and the importance of being prepared for anything.

Losing two key players in the middle of the tournament was tough, but it also gave us a chance to step up and support each other in new ways. We had to be ready to make adjustments, and every player had to be prepared to step up and cover for each other when needed.

We had to trust each other and communicate effectively to ensure we were all on the same page.

Playing setter was fun, it was the position I started in volleyball, it was fun to play it again and realize how important that position is to the team and learned more about how I can improve my game as DS/Libero.

I had to be focused, quick-thinking, and stay calm under pressure. This experience reminded me that I need to be ready to adapt to any situation that comes my way and that the only way to do that is to be prepared, practice, and stay focused.

Ultimately, this tournament taught me that a team is only as strong as its weakest link.

Every player on the team plays a critical role, and we all need to be ready to step up and support each other when needed. I’m grateful for this experience and excited to see what the future holds for our team. Thanks for reading!