In her freshman year, Kaitlin Tan earned her spot as a D.S. (defensive specialist) for the Briar Woods Girls Varsity Volleyball team, and now as a sophomore, she is continuing her journey through the sport.
She got into volleyball far before high school, saying, “it was my parents who really brought it up to me. Once my dad took me to a volleyball clinic, and it clicked for me.” This spark went further than she could have imagined, and she continued on, saying, “afterwards, I started doing more clinics, then club, then school.”
When it comes to what she enjoys the most out of volleyball, it is two things: community and competition. Tan expressed why she truly enjoyed volleyball, saying, “I like the dynamic of a team, especially the emphasis on energy and skill while being competitive, with all of us pushing each other to become better.”
No single game stands out as one that she will always remember or that was crucially important to her, since every game is equally important in her eyes, as long as it is a challenge to win. Tan specified, “High level play just motivates me to play the best I can, [and] I want to contribute to my team as much as possible.”
Volleyball is time consuming, especially for a student not only enrolled in the sport at a school but also on a club team, but in her mind it is worth it, as she says, “What volleyball has really taught me is that I need to put what I enjoy as my priority. Volleyball takes up so much of my time, but I love to do it so I’m okay with it taking time.”
For her, failure must come in turn with her love for volleyball. She admits, “in the last few games, I’ve had absolutely terrible numbers on serve receive, but I can’t just let it get me into a slump.” She adds on, explaining, “For me, the best thing I can do is look back, learn from my mistakes, hope to improve, and then look forward again.”
Her passion for volleyball, but specifically the community that is involved with it, becomes even more evident when she is asked about any goals she has. Tan shares, “[in the] short term, I want to give it [my] all for the remaining games for our beloved seniors, and long term, I want to build on my skills and continue to support my team.”
With years to come, Tan looks forward to the chances and opportunities set out for her, as she plans to continue on into her junior and senior year on the Briar Woods Volleyball team, ensuring she continues to achieve and fulfill the goals she sets.
