Leadership became Carmela Schulz’s biggest takeaway from the camp.

As a libero, she understands that making plays is only part of the job. She challenged herself to become more vocal between rallies, communicate with greater purpose, and bring competitive energy to every point. The faster the gym became, the more she realized that college coaches weren’t only evaluating passing technique. They were paying attention to body language, attitude, and how athletes responded when they weren’t touching the ball.

One moment captured that lesson perfectly. During a defensive drill, Carmela noticed that few athletes were applying the coaching point that had just been emphasized. When it was her turn, she intentionally executed exactly what the coach had asked for and immediately received positive feedback.

For Carmela, the compliment wasn’t about the drill itself. It was confirmation that coachability gets noticed.

Today, she continues focusing on improving her speed, defensive range, and consistency while carrying forward one important lesson: great liberos lead long before the ball ever comes their way.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247