By Chrisitna Burke

Many students are proud supporters of the volleyball team home and away, but they may not know that the volleyball season never really ends. Immediately after playoffs are over, the girls will begin trying out for and practicing with their club teams.

Split up by age divisions and multiple teams, the players compete with the best of the best all over the nation. Ten  of the 13 players on Coppell’s varsity team competed at the national tournament in June.

Competitive volleyball, like any competitive sport, is a very time consuming commitment. In Coppell, players work on their skills around four hours a day. Most girls have been playing since fourth grade and are very familiar with this issue.

Although players who are still participating in the school playoffs are not allowed to try out for teams with the rest of their age groups according to UIL rules, the girls are not worried because of there strong-standing relationships with their current teams.

“[Volleyball] is your life,” junior Cassidy Pickrell said. “You don’t realize how much time you spend on it until you are really out of it for a good amount of time.”

As an outstanding outside hitter, Pickrell has an abundant amount of passion for the game. She is especially fond of the club season.

“[Club] is just a different competitive level. You’re playing with the best of the best of your age group, not the best of the best for your school,” Pickrell said. “High school is great but your playing with girls that aren’t even in your grade. I like club a lot because that is where you get recruited more for college, you meet girls from other schools, you make friends with people on other teams from different places.”.

Club volleyball is the most important time of year for a competitive player. Teams travel to regional qualifiers not only to try to make nationals, but also to get noticed by top notch colleges. Coaches often search for the best upperclassman to recruit from Dallas national qualifying tournaments. These tournaments are a good opportunity way for girls make themselves known in the next level of the game.

While some Coppell players are already committed to colleges, others are working just as hard as they continue with their high school careers.

Sophomore Lindsay Stivers has been playing volleyball for about  six years, and her hard work has recently paid off by getting moved up to varsity. After playing for many years, Stivers can speak for the whole team when she says that a lot of time and effort goes into volleyball year round, but there are always benefits.

“[Volleyball] consumes a lot of our time, but I feel like it’s worth it,” Stivers said. “I really enjoy all of the friendships that are made. Other than the sport, that’s always been my favorite part.”.

Along with getting more practice and playing time, club volleyball also allows girls to meet others from around the area. It is a time for teams to bond and build strong friendships together.

In the meantime, as soon as the intensity of playoffs winds down, Coppell volleyball will soon begin the off season, and things at school will begin winding down.