For any sports team to flourish, all players have an undeniable responsibility to work together, communicate, participate, and be willing to learn. However, the players aren’t the only ones who have authority over the team. Coaches have the essential role of managing and conditioning the players to be game-ready. Abraham Lincoln’s volleyball team is starting the 2023 season with a new coach, Alyssa Jeffrey, who hopes each player will embrace their true potential and have fun.
Jeffrey became a volleyball coach so she could share her knowledge and passion for the sport with others. This goal had its challenges but she learned to push herself, and soon achieved her dream, regardless of the obstacles that she faced.
“I was told by many of my coaches that I was too small to play college volleyball,” said Jeffrey. “My senior year I had a coach tell me that nothing is impossible unless you don’t try. She taught me to never let others put me down and to push myself to reach my dreams. I want to make the same impact on athletes as she did me.”
Sophomore Jasmine Shields has played volleyball since first grade. Her parents have played pro and continue to play to this day, sparking her interest. Jasmine is starting her second season with the AL Volleyball team and loves how well everyone has bonded on and off the court.
“This year we’ve embraced many of our individual personalities rather than hiding them,” Shields said. “Our team is stronger. We also do lots of team bonding activities and a lot of us hang out outside of school.”
Senior Varsity setter Molly Romano first took an interest in volleyball after seeing her friends play when she was 6 or 7. As she got older, she gained a passion for the sport. As it is her senior year, she hopes to make new memories with her teammates and make the best out of her last season.
“We get to spend every day together,” said Romano. “They’re my best friends through all the tough conditioning, fun practices, intense games, and huge wins! We all just like to have a good time together so we feed off of each others energy and jokes, which makes us connect so well on the court.”
Jeffrey’s ultimate goal for the season is to make sure the girls have fun and grow as players. She feels that the team’s biggest strength is the togetherness that they show.
“The girls are always there for one another and picking each other up,” said Jeffrey. “I hope that this team walks away remembering this as a big family. Freshmen through Seniors have been working together, practicing and participating in team bonding events, and I think it is so important to create a culture of unity.”
