Many athletes on Edina High School’s volleyball team play with a club as well as the high school team, which can make for intense and sometimes stressful schedules. Although club volleyball and Edina Volleyball hold some differences, EHS volleyball players find that they are similar in terms of dedication and environment.
One requirement that persists for both club and high school volleyball is the heavy time commitment. EHS’s volleyball team, Edina Volleyball, competes in the fall, from the start of the school year to mid-October. During the season, players attend practice daily and have a couple games every week. They also commit extra time to exercising in the gym. Clubs typically hold practice a couple of times each week from late fall to early summer. While the practice schedule for club volleyball is not nearly as demanding, the tournaments are longer and club teams occasionally travel out of state for competition. “[Club volleyball] will take up all your weekends,” junior Samantha Graves said. When involved in both Edina Volleyball and a separate club, players find themselves with less free time. Sometimes, this can interfere with their academics and other activities. “Last year, I was at a tournament in Madison, Wisconsin the weekend before my AP Government exam,” sophomore Maren Farazi said. “I had to study for it in the hotel after my games, which was not fun.”
Since club volleyball teams travel more than Edina Volleyball does, some athletes believe that the volleyball club season is more important for college scouting than the high school one. “The way that [colleges] see it is that you can be part of a small town and still be on varsity because there isn’t anyone else to play you,” Farazi said. “That’s why they pay more attention to club season.” Perhaps because of this, playing the club team environment can foster a more competitive environment. “Traveling makes [playing with the club team] more fun, but club is definitely more intense. You play with people more at your skill level, whereas the high school is more relaxed and more fun,” said Graves.
The transition between playing for Edina Volleyball and for a club is emotionally draining for some players. “It’s stressful to end a season and then have to try out for another one and then one after that,” junior Joy Deng said. This year, Deng is quitting playing for her volleyball club, Vital Volleyball, because of its demanding schedule.
Although the tournaments can be intense, and bouncing between club volleyball and Edina Volleyball can be strenuous, players find that playing the sport with others brings them joy. Both kinds of teams foster a tight-knit community. “It’s fun to build a connection with your team and make friends,” Deng said. “When [my team and I] play a good opponent and we cheer each other on… that’s always memorable.”
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on October 12, 2023.
