The thrill, the excitement, the chanting, and the rivalry. Sports are such an important part of students’ lives in high school. There are many people involved in making athletics one of the most memorable experiences to be a part of. While not everyone participates in a sport, students have many ways to make game days special, whether that is taking the team photos or cheering from the stands. Most people have a favorite sport, but what is one of the most liked sports in high school? In a recent, non-scientific, Echoes poll for Abraham Lincoln students, that sport is volleyball.
Out of 142 responses and 14 sports to choose from, 30 voted for volleyball. A major part of the sport’s popularity is how diverse it is. Volleyball is loved by millions of fans around the world and has greatly increased in viewership. In fact, the Nebraska Women’s Volleyball Team broke the record for college volleyball attendance with over 92,000 fans in August of 2023, and in 2021, the NCAA final had 1.2 million viewers.
Participation and interest in volleyball have also increased. USA Volleyball membership hit 408,000 players during the 2022-2023 season and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation. It was recently announced that the Nebraska Crossing owner, Rod Yates, is “…in the final steps of an agreement that would bring USA Volleyball facilities from California to Gretna.” The sport can also easily be adapted to different playing surfaces, ranging from indoor to grass to beach volleyball with various skill levels.
Sophomore varsity volleyball player Jasmine Shields first got interested in the sport after watching both of her parents play. Since she started playing in Kindergarten, she has learned different skills needed for on and off the court.
“Playing volleyball has taught me to work hard, to never give up, and to have trust in my team,” said Shields. “I’ve also developed a new level of respect for players, coaches, and refs as volleyball is a very difficult sport. Volleyball has also helped build leadership, it does in everyone. You have to learn to become a leader for yourself and your team.”
