To open the inaugural sports season of the new year, the high school girls’ volleyball tryouts took place after school on Aug. 18 and 21. Coaches Mrs. Jolly and newcomer Ms. Dennard oversaw the process as 28 students showcased their abilities and dedication to make the cut.

Day one kicked off with a focus on foundational skills. “On the first day we did basic setting, bumping, serving, hitting drills, just to give us an idea where everyone was at,” said Mrs. Jolly.  

Specifically, they began by separating into smaller groups to focus on their bumping and setting accuracy. At the same time, the girls’ new assistant coach, Ms. Dennard stepped up and took meticulous notes on the players’ abilities. 

Ms. Dennard’s well-rounded background in sports, alongside her experience as both the elementary girls’ futsal and high school boys’ volleyball coach prepared her for the challenge. “I did track and field when I was growing up, I did volleyball in middle school, and I mostly played soccer. I played soccer from the age of 4 until I graduated high school,” Ms. Dennard said. 

On the second day, the girls moved onto a series of matches with veteran to beginner team combinations that allowed the athletes to showcase their talent. Throughout the process, the coaches observed each player’s strengths such as leadership, presence on the court, and resilience.

The scrimmages enabled the ballers to present individual skill sets, from spiking to back attacks. “I got to do a lot of back row hits that day and I got to play with different setters and also my middle school setter (ninth grader Sophia Yoon), so that was really fun,” said freshman Yul Sakong. 

After a competitive selection process, 22 students secured spots while six fell short of the roster. 

Coaches noted that their evaluations reached beyond technical abilities. “I would say that there’s nothing more I look for than a wide range. Obviously skill is super important. But to follow up with that, I would say communication, teamwork, and leadership,” Mrs. Jolly said. 

Despite not making the team, freshman Elba Jegal acknowledged the necessity of these evaluations. “This would be a fair thing because it’s a school representative team. So of course we need verification of our own skill,” Jegal said.

At the same time, Jegal commented on disadvantages for newbies. “But for people who haven’t done it for a long time, it might not be very professional and they may have some difficulties understanding what to do, or they might not be very familiar with the training style,” she said.

The tryout system presented positional challenges beyond player experience. “It wasn’t because they weren’t good enough. It was too many people trying out for their positions and the other people were just more experienced and better,” Mrs. Jolly said. 

Concerns over safety further influenced the decision to implement tryouts. “We had an injury from the [first day of tryouts], so I’m always worried about safety because there’s just not enough space, which is the whole purpose of tryouts: to limit the team so that we can all be safe, but that we can also focus on the same goals,” Mrs. Jolly said.

While the establishment of auditions since the 2023 season stirred mixed reactions, it ultimately aimed to build stronger programs. Alongside this goal, coaches encouraged students that didn’t make the roster to continue developing their game. “I felt like we had to cut students that do have potential. So I want them to keep going, keep trying, and practice on their own. It’s not going to be enough to practice during recess. They need to go and find their playground and keep practicing,” Mrs. Jolly said.