5 Observations from the Prep Dig Sizzle
As we enter what could be a very different high school volleyball season the Prep Dig Sizzle is giving us a glimpse into what it may look like. Underneath all of the safety precautions though was some good old-fashioned volleyball.…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs we enter what could be a very different high school volleyball season the Prep Dig Sizzle is giving us a glimpse into what it may look like. Underneath all of the safety precautions though was some good old-fashioned volleyball. Even though I was watching virtually there are some things that are abundantly clear; here are my 5 observations from watching the Prep Dig Sizzle.
Everyone had fun! Coaches and athletes both looked like they were having a ton of fun. After months without competition or even practices, everyone looked thrilled to be on the court again. The smiles, even from afar, were obvious.
The intensity and level of competition were high. I was a bit surprised at how well the teams were playing and the high level of competition throughout both days. I expected the play to be competitive but maybe a bit rusty; however, many of the athletes looked like they never stopped playing and brought a great intensity to the court. Considering the fact that no open gyms could occur prior to July 1, these athletes hopped back on the court and did not miss a beat.
Blocking looked great! Blocking is one of the tougher aspects of volleyball that usually requires a lot of practice between the pin and middle hitters, but many teams were putting up a consistent and well-formed double block. The blocking was impressive across the board and the speed of the middle blockers was notable.
Teams utilized players from all age levels. In fact, several teams already had incoming freshmen playing up with their varsity-level teams. Watching these athletes work with the experienced upperclassmen was refreshing. It was great to see the incoming seniors taking a leadership role on the court.
All teams were working through some “OOPS” moments. Despite how smooth and competitive the teams were playing, there were still some OOPS moments that likely wouldn’t be happening if athletes had played throughout the spring and had more time with open gyms. But that is what the Sizzle is all about! It is an opportunity to work through these moments with a smile and a laugh and know that once the athletes have time to shake off the cobwebs, even more, the teams will be even more seamless than they currently are.
Watching these athletes get back on the court and play was incredibly refreshing. I think we all have been missing volleyball these last few months and being able to watch and play volleyball is probably something no one will take for granted in the near future.