Union University’s volleyball team has started this season off strong with a 12-4 record overall and a 5-0 record in the the Gulf South Conference.
Last weekend, the Lady Bulldogs beat Valdosta State University 3-0 and University of West Georgia 3-1. They are off to their best start in the GSC since they entered the conference.
“We have certain numbers for each of our hitters to hit and each game they’ve been hitting them, if not exceeding them,” Kristen Blackburn, the new assistant coach, said. “As a team we want to hit over 200 and we have been hitting well above that. And we also want to hold other teams below a certain threshold, and we’ve been doing that as well.”
Much of the credit for this success is attributed to the coaching and attitudes of the players this year. The coaches are trying new methods in practice that they believe boost the self-confidence in the individual players and their determination to compete at higher levels.
“Our practices are set up where each drill you could earn extra points if you do something good, rather than — you know — you win the drill but then the losers have a punishment,” Blackburn said. “At the end of practice we actually keep all of their scores on the back of the board. And the top 3 girls who have the highest points for the day will get a prize. It’s something just to recognize their hard work.”
This positive reinforcement approach to practicing drills is unusual; however, the volleyball team has found it vital for their growth as players and as a team this season. Incentives to perform well and an emphasis on consistency in practice create an environment for the players to perform better during games.
“It also exposed girls who didn’t necessarily know how hard they could work. So now girls are working harder to make it onto the white board and be one of those three names,” Blackburn said.
These motivators have brought out the best in players and inspired them to improve on and off the court.
Coaches find that committing to encourage their players and push them towards reaching their goals is an important component of teaching and learning.
“Our coaches are a constant encouragement towards our team. They continuously push us to not only excel on the court but also in the classroom and in many other aspects of life,” Emily Grace Calhoon, senior outside hitter and middle blocker, said. “The coaches create a great competitive atmosphere for every practice that we compete in. They set individual and team goals with each person on the team and truly will work their hardest to lead us towards achieving specific goals we are striving towards.”
Although the new practice methods, goal setting and incentives aid the team’s success, the coaches and players believe it is their relationships and the bonds they have formed that allow them to perform their best.
“The team dynamic this year is something pretty special to be a part of. We have such a special group of girls with more than just the love of the game propelling us,” Calhoon said. “We have a huge love for each other and have been able to create special relationships apart from volleyball. We all can rely on one another to be there for each other off and on the court, which is so important whenever building that special bond, which then, in turn, is able to be visually seen on the volleyball court.”
The coaches amplify this idea of community with the way they interact with the players. They make it a priority to know the girls on a deeper level, beyond volleyball in their everyday lives.
“Me and my husband, Sean Blackburn — this is just different than last year — we actually host at least three girls every Sunday for dinner, just being super intentional with the relationships with each of them,” Blackburn said. “When we go on long bus rides — like, we just came off of a 9 hour bus ride — Me and coach Vick, we would go back in the seats with some of the girls and just talk to them, nothing about volleyball but just them as a person, seeing how they’re doing.”
These relationships and bonds have strengthened the volleyball team as a whole. Their chemistry as friends brings them closer so that they can work towards a common goal. They want one another to exceed and grow, and they do this through encouragement and friendly competition.
“The girls just work super hard,” Blackburn said. “They have a great positive attitude and they’re super gritty.”
The team will play a home game against Mississippi College on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Photo courtesy of UU Athletics.
