This fall, Wakefield’s women’s varsity volleyball team currently holds a winning record of 9-5 in conference play. Much of this success comes from not only the skills of the players but also the encouraging community created by the team. Many of the players view volleyball as more than just an extracurricular activity; the sport also provides an outlet for coping with hardships. This atmosphere is created by the coaching techniques, along with support from the players.
Junior Molly Harmon, the middle blocker as well as the outside hitter for Wakefield, has found value in the community. She describes how volleyball is less about winning and more about building relationships with fellow players and being able to rely on each other in moments of crisis.
“Volleyball is about community and building friendships through it,” Harmon said. “Less of competing for the sport and more [about] having friends and being able to rely on them for things outside of volleyball.”
Math teacher Alyssa Pitt currently serves as the head coach of the team and is well into her second season. Pitt is an experienced player, having played volleyball at the Division 1 level at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Pitt’s ideology regarding victories is strictly focused on securing the win. This idea fosters both a competitive environment and a space where mistakes are an integral part of growth.
“[I’m] always playing to win the game, so I try to teach my girls that [winning] doesn’t always have to look perfect,” Pitt said. “Some of the ugliest things win points, and that’s OK.”
Junior and defensive specialist, Aubrey Worthington, has strengthened her love for volleyball because of Wakefield’s team. She enjoys the intense competition the sport provides as well as the friendships she has acquired through it. This has created an atmosphere where players can feel comfortable using volleyball as an outlet. Worthington adds on to Harmon’s definition of volleyball, sharing how it’s built on community.
“ [Being on the team] means that you always have to be there for each other,” Worthington said. “Even if you face hard losses or super great wins, you have to be there for each other no matter what.”
Allison Krassy, a junior at North Wake College and Career Academy, is in her third year playing volleyball for Wakefield. For Krassy, the sport became a crucial outlet during a difficult time. Like many of her teammates, she finds comfort in the game’s ability to provide both escape and connection.
“In middle school, my mom got pretty sick, and being able to have volleyball as an outlet was really helpful,” Krassy said. “It’s a stress reliever, and it’s like you’re in your own world, which helps you separate yourself from the stress that’s going on.”
Volleyball clearly serves a greater purpose in the players’ lives than just an after-school activity; the sport shapes the girls and helps them grow. Pitt has had the opportunity to witness this growth, not just athletically, but also personally. This is due to her techniques in implementing self-assurance in the girls.
“The main thing I try to instill in [my players], besides volleyball skills, would be their confidence,” Pitt said. “That’s something that, especially as women, we need to have regardless of who is in the room or who we’re going against.”
