Lady Raiders go from nationals to preparation for high school season

With the high school volleyball season on the horizon, a trio of L.D. Bell volleyball players are transitioning from their club seasons that recently culminated at the Girls Junior National Championships in Indianapolis.

The four-day tournament, put on by USA Volleyball, features hundreds of qualified teams in several different age groups and divisions.

Junior outside hitter Allison Barton plays for Texas Advantage Volleyball’s 16 Blue squad, which finished fifth in the 16 USA division. It was Barton’s fifth trip to the junior nationals.

“It’s pretty intimidating because you’ll have schools that you emailed before the tournament to tell them to come watch you, and then you look up and there they are,” Barton said.

College scouts and coaches are regular fixtures at the junior nationals, which brings in teams from around the country and even beyond. It’s that depth of field that’s one of the most interesting aspects of the tournament for Sophie Rodgers, another Lady Raiders junior who played in Indianapolis with Tejas 16.1.

“I like playing the different teams,” Rodgers said. “Sometimes there are teams from places like Hawaii or Puerto Rico, and I like seeing the variety of teams from different states and even different countries.”

Rodgers, who was on her sixth trip to nationals, added there are also occasionally opportunities to watch some of the elite USA Volleyball teams compete.

Tessa Glick, an incoming freshman hoping to make the varsity squad this season, also played in Indianapolis with Tejas 14.1 in the Open division, the highest level at each age group.

For Glick, it’s the simpler things that make the tournament fun.

“I just like playing with my team and going out to dinners after the games,” she said. “The best part is playing hide-and-seek at the hotel.”

Barton, Rodgers and Glick are like many high school volleyball players who essentially now compete in the sport 12 months a year. Bell coach Jinni Walker has seen the trend grow over the years.

“It’s a huge commitment for them to play club, but you’re going to find at any 6A high school, pretty much all of them play club and play year-round,” she said. “The level that we’re at, the district that we’re in, we’re competing against girls that are doing the exact same thing. As a high school coach, you’re just hoping they’re playing at the highest level possible. It’s intense, they have to really love volleyball.”

The club volleyball season, which includes extensive travel, can last six months and there are times club and high school volleyball intersect.

“They definitely have to co-exist,” Walker said. “There’s typically enough respect between the clubs and high schools that we work together as best we can.”

Barton said to her, the major difference between club and high school volleyball is primarily a matter of age.

“Club is your own age group so everyone is your age,” Barton said. “But when you get to high school, you might be a freshman playing against 18-year-olds, and that’s kind of different.”

Rodgers has a slightly different perspective, given her position on the court.

“I think it’s different for me because I’m a setter,” she explained. “It’s not really the chemistry, but adapting to each hitter’s ball and the height and speed they need. The chemistry is pretty much the same even though it’s different girls.”

Another big difference, though, is the atmosphere at games. They all agree the high school atmosphere is better.

“We have a really good turnout at high school games,” Barton said. “At club it’s mostly just parents, because you travel so far that friends don’t really come to that. But at school we have a really nice student section, and that’s fun.”

“We know we need our kids to play club, but when you’re playing for your high school there’s a pride factor and it’s really cool,” Walker added. “Especially at the Trinity games, because the student sections go nuts and it’s a completely different environment.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Lady Raiders go from nationals to preparation for high school season."