Helen Earle '21 Recruiting Profile

I love volleyball for three reasons: camaraderie amongst the players, teamwork is required, and the strategy of the game.  

I started playing volleyball in 4th grade.  I was the newbie on a team with girls that had at least a year of experience.  I was awkward and sometimes lost on the court.  However, my teammates didn’t roll their eyes or laugh at me.  Instead, they’d encourage me or cheer me on when I did something well.  However, my 7th grade travel team was the polar opposite where each player worried only about themselves and their status and they formed a small ‘mean girl’ clique.  That was my least favorite year of volleyball and almost made we want to give up the sport.  After changing clubs for 8th grade, I once again enjoyed a shared camaraderie with smart and talented players.  When I started high school, I tried to embody the spirit and behaviors of a team player.  Mountain House High was not the school I was zoned for, so I was a virtual stranger to the school only knowing three girls from shared club volleyball experiences.  Before the season started,  I was selected by team vote to be the JV Team Captain.  This honor was an affirmation that I had done a good job supporting the team.  

I’ve seen olympic and college games that have just blown my mind with speed and skill of play.  On a much smaller court, I’ve enjoyed some awesome play with my teammates where we all join together to create the best plays possible. I’ve also been part of some really terrible plays.  Even when we don’t communicate efficiently, we come together and recoup and shake off the last play.

Last, I really love the complexity of the game. As a hitter, I look for opportunities to exploit weaknesses in the opposing team, while seeing what opportunities exist at the moment as I approach the ball.  When blocking, I think about how the ball will be hit off of the opposing hitters hand and how I can place my hands to best block the ball. I also see how the setter sets the ball to know where I should go and where to place my feet.

All and all, volleyball is a sport I love for camaraderie, team experience and strategy.  I’ve known the game for most of my life and would love to play during college as I pursue my degree.  I can’t imagine not having volleyball as part of my life.