U16 Boys Volleyball

by Alex Yu (S4S)

Bump…Set…Spike…and OVER! A resounding roar erupts from the stands. This is what we live for – what we wholeheartedly signed up for: the feeling of adrenaline coursing through our veins as we wipe away beads of sweat from our ruddy cheeks.

For some, volleyball is merely a sport, but for the U16 Boys team, it is a commitment. Training from the very onset of the academic year, perfecting our digging and serving, before proceeding to setting and spiking, was indeed an arduous process, but there was not a doubt in our minds that this was all going to be worth it. It was astonishing how quickly our skills developed with the after-school trainings and lunchtime games. Within weeks, the ball had come alive, and to our glee, seemed to whiz about the air. What was equally impressive, was how quickly our camaraderie grew – what had been strangers was now a close-knit family, a team with a strong sense of brotherhood. Volleyball is definitely a great way to improve one’s physical dexterity and to hone one’s athletic ability, but at the end of the day, it is our friendship that will last forever.

Donning the black and red uniform, every one of us felt an overwhelming sense of pride, at being able to represent our school and demonstrate athleticism and sportsmanship, and at being able to call ourselves part of the U16 Boys team. Furthermore, the pride that we felt showed that volleyball has given every single one of us a sense of responsibility and ownership on the team. As a setter or ring spiker, every one of us needs to possess and demonstrate leadership skills and strong intuition. Our sense of duty to the team led us to organize training sessions outside of the regular after-school CCA times, like during lunch and take time to a instill culture of care and encouragement within the team itself.

Ultimately, volleyball is hard. But it is this challenge that makes volleyball so enjoyable. We have risen up, again and again against the challenges we have encountered, gotten right back up when these challenges knocked us down, emerging finally as the First Runner-Up. Both fun and stimulating, the Volleyball CCA provides a learning experience for all, one that nobody can forget easily. If you’re still pondering it, come join the school’s volleyball teams – we’ll see you then!

Go Lions!