2008 Volleyball Blog - Week 4

by Amanda Trask - Sunday, October 5, 2008

Last Friday, the volleyball team integrated its normal practice time into a fun community service activity at the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club. We were able to initiate this activity, because we ran into their camp program during the preseason, when we went to play some beach volleyball at Lake Wyola. We talked with some of the camp counselors who were at the beach with the children that day, and we were eager to organize a day where we could work with the kids after school. After some calls with the director in Holyoke, Mass., Coach Terrell was able to arrange the activity.

We headed over to their gym around 3:30 p.m., very excited to play with the children. Once we got there, we warmed up on our own and and passed with each other. Then, we set up for a game of four on four for the children to watch, as they shuffled into the gym in excitement. They soon filled the room, as there were at least eighty of them, ranging from ages five to 12! They watched the rest of our quick little ten point game, and then, we all introduced ourselves. We broke up into small groups to pass the ball around with the kids. However, we quickly realized that going through each individual skill with a group of that magnitude would be difficult, so we just continued passing the balls around and holding the kids up high above the net to let them hit some balls. I think they had a lot of fun, and so did we! Towards the end, the children came around and gave us water bottles and lunch boxes from the Boys and Girls Club to show their gratitude. We really appreciated their kindness. We invited them to our "Game of the Week" against Smith College on October 28, and hopefully, the director will be able to bring some kids to Mount Holyoke to watch our match. After snapping some pictures and picking up some volunteer applications, we headed home. I think everyone really enjoyed themselves.

On Saturday, we went to the "Game of the Week." It was a soccer match between Mount Holyoke and Wellesley. I think the volleyball team definitely got the spirit award for the day, as we showed up fresh out of practice with blue paint on our faces, arms and legs to show our pride. We cheered loudly, and we had a lot of fun eating the goodies provided by the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and our captains.

We always have fun attending the "Game of the Week" and supporting our fellow student-athletes. Unfortunately, we cannot make it to the field hockey "Game of the Week," because we will be hosting our annual Hall of Fame Tournament during that time. We will definitely be there in spirit!