Interview with Marines' Girls JV Volleyball Team

Living on the beach, there’s one thing everybody loves to do with their friends: play volleyball!  Playing with your friends in the heat of the sun…the scorching hot sand under your feet, and the laughter all around—that’s what makes up Long Beach. Volleyball is a way of connecting people and that’s what’s so special about it. Memories—strung through each person, connecting to one another, from the libero…to the setter…to the outside wing. That’s the beauty in it, and LBHS is lucky enough to have a wonderful group of girls who all share this connection.

 

The Girl’s JV Volleyball Team is led by Coach Katherine Dascher, a kind, down-to-earth woman, loved by her girls. From just interviewing this team, sticking around for a bit and watching them interact, I learned that there’s a level of friendship that each and everyone of these girls share. But this didn’t exclude the coach. What was so special about JV Volleyball, is that they love Coach Dascher, and include her in their fun; but still respect her as an authority figure. In such little time together, such a great bond was made.

Coach Dascher has been a big fan of volleyball for a while now, she explained that it has been that way since high school: “I decided to coach because I grew up playing. I played all throughout high school. I also play beach volleyball now in the summers. I spend most of my time in Long Beach just playing, having some fun with my friends.” Core memories are made through spending time with friends, doing what you love best! And for Coach Dascher—it’s volleyball!

 

“We all kind of come together. We have a lot of different kinds of people and that’s a benefit of joining a sport. You kind of get to be yourself, but also be able to find other people that might have one interest that you like and then you can expand on what you like,” she adds. 

 

The beauty of joining a sport is finding people who you can identify with. You have the same interests, the same drive, you both fight for the same thing. For the freshmen out there who haven’t joined a sport, it could be nice to have this type of community your first year in high school.

 

“I recommend volleyball because It's very entertaining; to watch, and to play. You have to be focused, the entire time you’re on the court, and you also have to work well as a team. So, having that communication and just that environment creates a positive place for people to come and enjoy playing, and be successful,” she says. A warm and welcoming environment is everything, especially to a newer crowd.

 

The team has some great ideas on why others should join Long Beach Volleyball, and here’s what they came up with! 

 

The team’s libero, tenth grader, Sydney Bergstein says, “volleyball shows you how to be a leader because you need someone to carry the court, and make sure everyone knows what to do, so, it shows you how to be helpful and communicate with other players on your team.” Leadership is a skill that not only coaches look for, but schools, bosses, and teachers as well. Volleyball teaches you how to lead: “It shows you how to work together with others, and it's skills that you’d need for other sports too,” adds the setter, tenth grader, Fiona Lynch. 

 

Not only are the skills you acquire important, but the bonds you make during this process. 

 

Inspiration when it comes to sports is a very big part of what drives players, for these girls, their inspiration is each other! “An inspiration for playing volleyball is my friends, because I've made a lot of good friendships over the sport and if I didn’t play volleyball… I wouldn't know most of the girls I know now,” says Sam Cox, an outside hitter and tenth grader.

 

As a student-athlete there’s many variables you have to put into each day. Schoolwork, family time, homework, volleyball, training, etc. It can get tiring. So, how does this team do it? “I actually look forward to coming to volleyball, because you have to go the whole day of school; and sometimes it’s really boring, and really annoying, and you don’t want to go. But then when we have games and stuff I get really excited and I get to think at the end of the day there’s finally something I can look forward to,” explains Sydney. “Yeah, and it also teaches you time-management with school and after school, homework, and studying,” says Fiona. 

 

Time management is a life tool we’re taught from a very young age, but it’s only really put to the test when you have to experience it. In this case, volleyball is a big addition to each and every day. It sounds like these girls know how to manage their time.

 

“Honestly, they’re a really great group of girls. I’m having a blast! From coming from boys soccer last year to here, they’re such a fun crew. They have energy all the time. Although we have to sometimes work on tying our shoes…I really am having an absolute blast with these girls and they make my day, every day, so good,” exclaims Coach Dascher.”

Warm words by Coach Katherine Dascher ends our interview on an energetic, kind, high note—which stays relevant in the air throughout their whole practice. You haven’t had fun until you’ve met the JV Girls Volleyball Team.