By MEAGAN MOODY ’12
Assistant Sports Editor
Summer is quickly approaching. Classes are winding down, the weather is growing warmer and soon people will be making their way to the beach, where there are sure to be people participating in one of the quintessential summer beach activities: volleyball. Here at Wellesley, however, there is no need to wait for sweltering temperatures and melting ice cream to get in the game. Beginning just this year, Wellesley has started intramural volleyball.
Tiffany Chan ’12 was one of the founders of intramural volleyball. “I played on club and school teams, so volleyball was a very large part of my life before I came to Wellesley. I love playing volleyball and I couldn’t find any information about a pre-existing organization when I came here, which was kind of surprising. A friend and I were pretty interested in continuing to play, so I emailed Megan Valentine [Assistant Director for Athletics Special Events and Club Sports] to ask about it; she said that as long as I got a certain number of people to sign up, we could reserve the gym,” Chan said.
Amanda Duritsch ’12, a member of the varsity volleyball team, still finds time to stop by the Sports Center Saturday afternoons for a little practice. “It’s a good way to stay active and to have something to do during a Saturday afternoon. Volleyball is very team-based so it’s all about working together and having fun together,” she said.
But you don’t have to be a member of the varsity team to join in the game. “There is a broad range of experience, from newcomers to the sport who have never touched a volleyball before to people who continue to play club over the summer. I think the majority have played before to varying degrees in middle or high school,” Chan said.
Kate Donahue ’12 had never played seriously before joining. “I had only played in PE during freshmen year of high school. I decide to do IM Volleyball because I like the sport and was interested in it. Plus I wanted to do something active because I used to do gymnastics and wanted a regular activity to go to. I missed having that team element,” she said.
A typical practice consists of working on some individual skills, like passing and spiking, as well as scrimmaging as teams. “We start out by warming up, then we do peppering, which is when you have two people pass it and hit it back and forth. We also hit lines and practice serving and we play scrimmages,” Duritsch said. Whether you’re looking to learn the game or work on your skills, volleyball offers something for everyone. Chan said, “I love volleyball because it’s a completely engaging sport. You’re constantly assessing, anticipating, and moving to accommodate different situations, and there’s always something you can work on, whether it’s specific technique or how to encourage your teammates.”
No matter what skill level people bring to the court, the chief focus is having a good time. “It’s fun, it’s low pressure and it doesn’t take up a lot of time,” Donahue said. Chan added, “Coming to IM Volleyball is a great way to meet new people and get a workout. If you’re new to the sport, you’ll find it’s pretty easy to catch on; if you have played before, it’s a great way to practice your skills. You can be as competitive as you want, but in general, it’s just chill and fun.”