Unveiling the Untold Tales of Sisterhood in Volleyball – Part 5

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 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.   Paige and [player_tooltip player_id='534412' first='Kharley' last='Smith'] are two dynamic forces in the realm of volleyball. Standing tall at 6 feet, Paige excels as a Right Side hitter for [program_tooltip program_id='510733' first='Drive' last='Nation'] 18 Black, slated to graduate in 2026. Her commanding presence on the court, coupled with a remarkable vertical reach of 10 feet 2 inches, sets her apart as a serious force. Meanwhile, Kharley, standing at 5 feet 11 inches, showcases her prowess as a Middle Blocker for [program_tooltip program_id='510733' first='Drive' last='Nation'] 15 Red, set to graduate in 2027.   What truly sets the Smith sisters apart is not just their exceptional skills on the court, but their remarkable ability to captivate audiences beyond the confines of the volleyball court. They have cultivated a vibrant social media presence, captivating followers with their journey and achievements. Their talents have even earned them a coveted spot on Sports Life Talk, further solidifying their status as rising stars in the sporting world.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_dd7d94.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539895" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://youtu.be/Ys0njUZAwqo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://youtu.be/Ys0njUZAwqo</a></figcaption></figure>   In this feature, I had the privilege of connecting with Paige and Kharley to illuminate and celebrate the depths of their sisterly bond.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_7b1a1a.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539893" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_f9b4a5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539894" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pre-game</h2>   Paige: My individual pregame ritual is definitely listening to rap music aka my ghost playlist, it really sets the tone for me getting ready to play and get locked in. My pregame ritual I do with my sister is either make a TikTok before we play or do our sister slime handshake.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_afb030.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539919" /></figure>   Kharley: My individual pregame rituals are praying before every game and listening to music to zone everyone out and lock in for my game.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shared Lessons</h2>   Paige: One thing I have picked up from Kharley is not to be a passive player on the court because it really can change your game and how to play.   kharley: One thing I've picked up from Paige is to have more confidence in myself while playing.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Smack Talk</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_fa047f.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539896" /></figure>   Paige: I'm going to firmly declare myself of being the smack talker on the court. The reason I'm going to give it to myself is because talking smack really ignites a flame. It really puts me in a different dynamic when I'm playing and it also drives me to push myself to limits that I never knew existed. So yes, I will embrace this title for myself because it is not just a skill, it is a profound pursuit to my victory.   Kharley: Paige is the champ when it comes to talking smack on the court. I am way too shy for that and I would be stepping out of my comfort zone which I am going to have to do eventually.         <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Squashing Disagreements</h2>   Paige: How kharley and I squash disagreements is by either laughing or not talking to each other for 10 minutes, then Kharley will want to talk to me or find something funny for me to laugh at.   Kharley: How Paige and I squash disagreements is by me ignoring her for a little while. Then I will eventually want to talk to her or joke with her.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Tea</h2>   Paige: I think my sister needs a position switch because I think she was born to be an outside hitter but is forced to play middle. I would love to see her on the outside or even becoming a 6 rotation outside hitter.   Kharley: I think my sister needs more playing time and should change her position to setter because she's a lefty and lefties have more advantages than right-handed setters. This would also be an advantage to me because it can help me get more reps with my hitting.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bonding Victory</h2>   Paige and Kharley: A victory that made our bond tighter was when we played the Lancaster game in the first round of District. What made the moment so special was that we got a lot of blocks together, more than we normally do.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_1974f9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539918" /></figure>   That moment really meant a lot to Paige. It helped her see how much they, as sisters, could accomplish together when they worked as a team. And for Kharley, it was special because they were both so excited for each other and they achieved great things together.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dream Team</h2>   Paige: If I could recruit one player for my dream team, I would recruit my long-time friend, [player_tooltip player_id='254165' first='Jaidyn' last='Hartsfield']. I chose Jaidyn because she's a great utility player at just the height of 5”8. She also can jump out of the gym and is just a great leader in general. We also share the same type of energy when we're on the court.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_4958f7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539911" /></figure>   Kharley: If I could recruit one player for my dream team it would be [player_tooltip player_id='535294' first='Aliah' last='Earls'], my school and club teammate. She is good at blocking, slowing the balls down, and is a smart player. She also has a positive attitude and is always a team player.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/image_71774a.png" alt="" class="wp-image-539915" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sister Pride</h2>   Paige: A game that made me super proud of my sister was the Ennis game. I chose this game because I was hurt so I didn't get to play. Kharley really took control and led our team to victory. It was a very tense game and with that game, I could see that she was a great leader and team player as well.     Kharley: A game that made me super proud of my sister was the Lancaster game. I chose this game because she was back from her injury and we were back on the court together. She was on point that game, she had a great hitting percentage, and that was just a great comeback game for her.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Achievements</h2>   Paige: The coolest thing my sister has achieved is her making MVP as a freshman! There are not a lot of freshmen that make MVP and for Kharley that was a great accomplishment. I'm very grateful that my sister could accomplish that because it allowed me to see my sister grow so much.    Kharley: The coolest thing my sister has achieved in volleyball was playing on a second team to a top team in less than a year. To this point, I think that is the coolest thing she probably has achieved.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes from Family</h2>   Mom: It's a blessing that they share the same desire and push each other to get better for the game. Both girls have been around volleyball since they were 6 & 7 at their older sisters' practice and picked up a ball pretty young. I tell them all the time if you want it, you gotta put in the work. There are a lot of hours,  whether practicing or conditioning but staying committed to becoming better and stronger players. I think the greatest excitement for me is seeing them grow and develop their skills and turn into great players and teammates.   Stepmom and Dad: We are very humbled and grateful that both girls share the same passion. We also love that they support each other. They make sure they hold each other accountable for their actions on and off court. What's heartwarming is that they rate each other's performance and when they have games at the same time they ask me how did each other did.

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 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.