But time commitment for fall athletes is not so minimal after all. We all come back to preseason nervous about the number of double days ahead, but also so excited to be ???in-season.??? And from day one, (at least on our team) the attitude is all volleyball. Countless hours are spent in the training room, on the court (with and without a net and balls), in the locker room, on the bus, in the strength and conditioning room, etc. Even when you are not playing, you spend time thinking through the game. What is the game plan today? Are we playing rotational defense or regular? Are we blocking line or angle?

But even though student-athletes??? lives are somewhat absorbed by their respective sports, I can speak confidently for all the seniors on the volleyball team, that being ???in-season??? is the best part of the year. We get to play a sport we love day-in and day-out. We get to be competitive. We get to represent our school. And we get to spend every waking moment with our pseudo family. This fall I have had 17 sisters. There are times when we fight like sisters, but mostly we have fun together like sisters, and any minor incident is fleeting. I know I can count on them, and I hope they know that they can count on me. If I am feeling any slight physical discomfort, I know Kat has some sort of remedy. If I need a laugh, Zaz, Lily, and Las are my go-to girls. If you need hair advice, Anna is your lady. If you just need good solid life advice, Captain Trimble has always got her head on straight. Everyone brings something to the team that is truly valued.

And so it is bittersweet that this season is ending. For each milestone that occurred, the seniors have taken a moment to realize that is the last of its kind. The last first day of preseason flew by. The last day of physical testing has come and gone. (Phew!) The last day of preseason is over. The last season home opener has passed. On November 1st, the seniors had their last morning practice, and we departed on our last road trip. It makes me sad to think that this is the last time I will spend three months solid with such an amazing group of girls and coaches. But it makes me happy to know that I wouldn???t have spent my time any other way.