Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Voices - Shannon Pitsch, Volleyball
11/20/2006 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2006
During my freshman season on the volleyball team at Bucknell, we sat in a class room during preseason and discussed what it meant to play Bison volleyball. A heart-felt conversation about the importance of hard work, dedication, and commitment ensued as each member of the team explained why she played volleyball at Bucknell. At the end of the meeting, as we attempted to articulate our ambitions into something more concrete our assistant coach declared the phrase: "one heartbeat". More than a year and a half later that phrase continues to generate butterflies in the stomachs of my teammates and myself.
This season Matt Saylor, the sports editor of the Bucknellian, explored the true definition of that phrase. Once again our faithful assistant coach explained, "If I were to describe this team - coaches and players - in one word it would be family...the kind of family were you would do anything for them. The kind of family were you correct each others' faults out of love and compassion, where you can be yourself and no one will judge you for that. The kind of family where you can laugh out loud on a bus trip because everyone got the joke but you, where you wish the years slow down so we can spend more time with each other. That's Bucknell volleyball.
I could overwhelm anyone with the unbelievable accomplishments of Bucknell's volleyball team this season. I could talk about our senior co-captain Kristen Sydlowski, who moved from outside hitter to libero this season, and after graduating will hold the Patriot League single-season digs record. I could talk about beating Army in five games with over 800 people cheering us on in Davis Gym. I could tell you what its like to witness Jenna Henderson hit a ball in the face of an opposing player or Sarah Groman and Jennie Smith block the ball of a team's best hitter straight down. In truth, though, while some might claim that volleyball is played between the lines of the court, our game is played in the heart that unifies every member of this team.
This weekend in Washington, D.C., my team has one goal in mind- a Patriot League Championship. No one cares that American has won five consecutive league titles. It does not faze us that Army probably wants revenge for the loss we served them a few weeks ago. My team knows that we have worked hard day in and day out to become the best team in the league. We have confidence that our offense is faster than any other team and that when we play our game we cannot be outmatched. Other teams might have bigger hitters or bigger blockers, but we have bigger hearts, and when it comes down to a championship situation the team with the greatest determination will prevail.
- Shannon Pitsch, So., Bucknell Volleyball
