Unveiling the Untold Tales of Sisterhood in Volleyball – Part 4
Embarking on a volleyball journey alongside your sister isn’t merely about sharing a love for the game; it’s a thrilling rollercoaster of laughter, cringe-worthy moments, and a bond that strengthens with every victory and loss. Here at PrepDig, we’re diving…
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Continue ReadingEmbarking on a volleyball journey alongside your sister isn’t merely about sharing a love for the game; it’s a thrilling rollercoaster of laughter, cringe-worthy moments, and a bond that strengthens with every victory and loss. Here at PrepDig, we’re diving deep into the realm of sibling rivalry, ready to spill the beans on the untold tales, secret rituals, and heartfelt moments that shape this extraordinary sisterly dynamic both on and off the court.
Allow me to introduce Tierney Ervin, a 5’8 Outside Hitter, Class of 2027, and Tristyn Ervin, a 5’10 Setter, Class of 2028, from Faith Lutheran High School in Nevada. The Ervin sisters are among the most hardworking siblings I have ever seen off the court. They have a strong social media presence where they often showcase their incredible workouts and personal journeys to perfect their craft.
In this article, I reached out to Tierney and Tristyn to uncover and share their tales of sisterhood.
Pre-game Rituals and Superstitions
Tierney: Tris and I always do our handshake before a game. It sets the tone for us and gets us ready for an enjoyable and competitive time on the court, giving us a sense of routine.
Tristen: One odd superstition I used to have before games was completing tasks from right to left. For instance, I would put on my right sock first, then my left, my right shoe before my left, sit on the right side of the car, even eat the right side of my sandwich first, and so on.
Top Lessons on the Court
Tristen: One valuable lesson I’ve learned from my sister on the court is, “Fake it until you make it.” Being the youngest on the team, we often play against older and more experienced competitors. As an undersized and younger player, she constantly faces off against older and taller opponents. Once I asked her, “Aren’t you scared?” Her response is always, “Fake it until you make it.”
Tierney: Playing with my sister, I’ve learned to develop a tough shell and not dwell on the little things that might typically bother me. I’m more sensitive, but observing how my sister plays, she never lets any opponent get her down. She maintains a stone-cold face and doesn’t let it affect her, whereas, for me, you might not see it on my face, but internally, it will bother me. She has taught me to use that anger or annoyance from the opposing side as fuel to play even better.
Hilarious and Cringeworthy Moments
Tierney: One time during practice, there was a hilariously cringe-worthy moment when Tris wore a pair of spandex two sizes bigger than what she would usually wear. Throughout the entire practice, they were baggy and looked like they were about to fall off her. It made for a silly practice day for me and the rest of the team. At one point, I was worried that if she went up to jump set, her spandex might fall down.
Tristyn: A cringeworthy moment I’ve shared with my sister was during a match when the referee mixed up our jersey numbers. It caused a delay of at least 10 minutes because the referee thought I was her and she was me. We get that a lot; everyone thinks we are twins! Well, we are Irish twins.
The Smack Talk
Tristyn: When it comes to talking smack on the court, that’s really not our style. But if I had to choose who would do it for us, it would definitely be me!
Tierney: Tris is way better at talking smack than me. I am more about encouragement than anything else.
Squashing Disagreements
Tristyn: We resolve disagreements by having intense conversations sometimes. We made a promise to each other that we would never take it personally. We both air out our differences by sharing our frustrations and then listening to the other person’s frustrations. This way, we understand each other better. If all else fails, I tell my dad.
Tierney: We are able to resolve disagreements by shaking things off and acting like teammates on the court when we need to. If I hold something against my sister on or off the court, then I am not being a good teammate. As a good teammate, I have to remember that we are fortunate to play side by side as great volleyball players and teammates, always there to support each other.
Tough Losses
Tristyn: A loss that brought my sister and me closer together was when we were defeated by a team we had previously beaten. That loss caused us to miss our bid to Nationals. That evening, we both put our thinking caps on and promised each other that we would start holding each other and ourselves accountable. From that moment on, we became closer.
Tierney: My sister and I have experienced many wins and losses together. Along the way, I’ve discovered that losses don’t have to define you or your team; they are vital for becoming better athletes. When my sister and I competed in Triple Crown and had to endure those losses, it strengthened our connection both on and off the court. We had to learn how to adapt to different plays while maintaining a positive mindset when interacting with each other. This experience helped us communicate better during games and demonstrated our strength as a team, especially when we can talk through things during challenging moments on the court.
On-the-court Assessments
Tristyn: My sister definitely deserves more playing time at her position, which is OH/DD. She’s super athletic and consistently puts in the work. When it’s all said and done, she’s going to be a super dynamic player.
Tierney: My sister is a great setter and will continue to be; I don’t think she will need a position change because her skills are very advanced. While her skills stand out from the rest, her personality as a setter stands out as well. She is direct and not afraid to communicate what needs to be said on the court to her fellow teammates. Another asset she possesses is her height. As a setter, having height on your side is a great advantage. It allows you to get tight balls off the net to keep more balls in play, see hands on the other side of the net, and place dumps more strategically.
Achievements
Tristyn: The coolest thing my sister has achieved in her volleyball career is being invited to the Under Armour Volleyball High School Invitational Camp three years in a row.
Tierney: My sister has been recognized by people all over the country and has put in the work to get noticed by coaches. But I think something I hold close to my heart is when she received an award for the best setter at a setter college camp with Chris Austin. It might be a smaller achievement, but it’s equally as important as the rest of her accomplishments so far.
Sister Pride
Tristyn: A time I felt super proud of my sister’s game was when we played against a super tough team with tall blockers. Almost every time, she found a way to score. She either put the ball around the block, hit through or above the block, and landed some monster shots. In that game, she had a lot of kills, and it really put her on the map.
Tierney: Every time I step onto the court with my talented sister, I feel blessed and proud to see her by my side. Her skill amazes me every day as I watch her grow and improve. When I see her practice with my dad and me in the gym and then witness her translate that hard work into the game, I feel incredibly proud to be her sister.
A Note From Mom and Dad
First and foremost Tierney and Tristyn are beautiful, intelligent, and talented young ladies and they are the loves of our lives. We are honored to be called their parents, they make us proud every single day. Not only do they excel in the volleyball world, they excel academically, spiritually, and they both are amazing role models for their baby sister Charlotte. Their first year of club volleyball started during the Covid-19 epidemic 2020-2021 season. In this short amount of time they have both displayed their astonishing talents and their tremendous upside and potential. They will be SUPERSTARS one day, on and off the volleyball court. Ball until you fall, if you fall…grab your asthma pump. We are so proud of you. We love you! -Mom & Dad (Dr. Phillip and Natalie Ervin)
We wish the Ervin family the greatest adventures, both on and off the court.