MBCI girls explain what it takes to win

East Kildonan

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/01/2024 (957 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The emails came in over Christmas, in response to a question I posed to the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute Grade 9 girls volleyball team.

They girls won the provincial championship in December. In the final game, composed of three sets, they had won the first set, then lost the second. The third would determine who would win the provincial championship. A hair’s-breadth (of exactly what, I can’t even imagine) rested between them and the sought-after win.

I asked them, generally, what the most important determinant was in the team’s success, and, in that final pressure-cooker game, what brought them their win.

Evey Burbank said “when you’re down and losing points, you have the power to control your emotions and reflect them on your team. Your positive words and encouragement give the team hope and build determination”.

Aryana Postma described volleyball as a game of who makes the least mistakes. To deal with them, she said, “focus on the next point and move on. Shake your head and get back in the game with a fresh mind.” This ability to mentally reset was particularly important in that last set in December.

There were common themes in the players’ emails, such as working hard both individually and as a team.

“Yes, skill does matter,” Britta Mueller said, “but hard work and heart matters the most. It is so important as a team to build each other up…a word of encouragement goes a long way…”

“What helped us improve and win as a team this season was our ability to connect and bond” said Mya Braun, who added that this was just one of the many things that contributed to the win streak.

“…We played for each other,” Melanie Gauthier said. “To play as a strong team, all of us gave it our all. We were confident in each other; we took accountability in ourselves which made us a stronger team because we were able to rely on each other”.

Lily Molitowsky also spoke of trust, but “most importantly we were a team that stayed positive and always had fun. We had really great energy all season”.

Madison Kasdorf said the closeness of the team was important. She said they became great friends. She said they had a good coach to cheer them on, and, speaking generally, she said “communication and always staying positive on the court and being loud” were also determinants.

MBCI athletic director Brian Plett said the Grade 9 girls volleyball team “represent the very best qualities that we hope all of our students here at MBCI value and pursue.” He went on to say that coaches Carolyn Postma and Nikki Palmer provided incredible leadership.

I wish I could print the players’ joyful messages in full. They read like a wonderful Christmas message for life.