Middle School Volleyball TISSA this Saturday

by Geneva Chang (Grade 11)

In a week of global conflicts, legal scandals, and even celebrity weddings, our Middle School volleyball teams have consistently been hard at work, training as they reach the home stretch for the TISSA tournament just around the corner. This Saturday, March 7th, our six teams head to different schools across Taiwan, aiming to secure some wins–and possibly, a few medals–for the Dragons. The culmination of over three months of hard work.

First up, the sixth-grade girls will be heading north to Taipei this weekend, led by their coach, Ms. Meehan, alongside student coaches Elena (11) and Yuki (11). They have been putting in the hours since Thanksgiving, working to build the foundations and basics that mark the start of these girls’ volleyball careers. Ms. Meehan notes that the team is “really excited, with a lot of energy”, which might be just what they need to keep morale high throughout their games.

Abbie Ho talks about how she joined volleyball not only because it’s a fun sport, but also “to make new friends”. While the team has been struggling with serves, she hopes for the team to win at least two games at TISSA. As for Aren Geçtan, her interest in the sport comes–at least, partially–from Haikyu, and she hopes to make more of her serves at TISSA, though believes it is more important on “making great memories” with her teammates. These players may not even be teenagers yet, but their feisty attitudes and determined cheers reflect their determination to prove themselves. They have quite a journey ahead of them, but we just might see a few of them playing on the high school courts in a few years. 

Moving up, the seventh-grade girls are traveling to Morrison Academy Taichung (MAC) for their tournament, marking the nearing of the season to an end. Coached by Ms. Kittleson and Ms. Marks, the girls are ready to showcase the improvement of the past few months. One of the players, Yulianna Su, comments that she joined volleyball this season because of her “unforgettable experience” last year, noting that the “thrill of the game” and “collaboration among teammates” are only a few of the reasons for her love of the sport. As the team prepares for the tournament, they stress that they not only aim to have fun, but also to make their persistent and arduous journeys as athletes worth it by trying for the podium. 

The seventh-grade boys, coached by Mr David, will also be heading to MAC. One of the players, Cameron Bailey, has been playing on the volleyball team for over an year, and shares that the team’s “only goal is to get on the podium” this weekend, giving us a glimpse into the boys’ determination. As they refine their skills, we are excited to see the progress the team has developed over the course of this season. 

Finally, the eighth-grade girls are facing the other international schools of Taiwan at our home court, so feel free to pull up and cheer them this Saturday. With 12 players on the team, Ms. Angela, who also coaches the high school Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team, has faith in the improvement they have achieved. Many of the girls, having been on the team during past years, already have basic skills, so the main focus of the season has been to continue building off of these foundations and preparing these athletes as they prepare to enter high school next year.

Captain Gigi Kung, who is on the team, of course, for her love of volleyball, admits that “of course I’d like to win a medal”, but that the main goal of the team is to win a few games and gain experience. Another player, Vera Lin, explains that her passion for volleyball has come from “playing here and there with friends”, and shares some of her personal goals, including serving above 80% over the net, calling “mine”, communicating with her teammates to ensure everyone is playing safely, and–most importantly–staying positive even if they face losses. She has “faith in the team” to possibly “bring home a medal”, but also mentions that the tournament being at our school might increase pressure and nerves on the team. Still, remember to stop by the school–or tune in online–to show your support for the young Dragons. And, a special thank you to Vera for reaching out to her teammates and other players for several of the interviews in this article. 

The future of our school’s athletics lies with these promising students as they explore their passions and talents in volleyball, so if you see any of them in the halls, be sure to show your encouragement and support.