Unstoppable

“This is a season you don’t want to miss,” varsity right side Damilola Aletor said. 

The volleyball team currently sits undefeated at 6-0. 

The Bison defeated Hawken on the Hawks home court on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The game was a 3-2 win. 

Middle hitter Kyimani Miller racked up an extraordinary 14-kill game.  

“The first set, I came in unfocused and was down on myself, but once we got in the rhythm, I came out of the shell that I was in,” Miller said.

“I’m happy that we stuck together through the fourth set, because we needed that in order to go on to the fifth,” she added.

The team has earned a great deal of confidence. Players feel their toughest match will be against Perry on Oct. 10th. 

“We have great energy, strong hitters, a strong back row, and we never quit,” Aletor said.

Coach Tiffany McFarland is focused on constantly developing the team’s skills.

For endurance, the team runs five laps every day before practice. Additionally, the team runs a mile and lifts weights on Fridays. 

McFarland explains that volleyball teaches important life lessons.

“Volleyball is special because it teaches teamwork,” she wrote in an email.

“One thing that I love about coaching is when the girls start to understand,” she wrote. “It can be very challenging when you are teaching the game and fundamentals.”

McFarland’s approach is repetition in practice. 

 “Once they ‘get it,’ it’s an amazing feeling as a coach,” she wrote. “That is the best part of coaching for me. I love to see girls develop into true volleyball players.” 

McFarland takes pride in giving back to her players. 

“The reason I coach is because I love the sport and to give back and pour into young women,” she wrote. “I believe that I wouldn’t have accomplished much in my sports career if someone didn’t pour into me.”

McFarland also takes pride in being a mentor.

“I love to see players evolve from beginners into skilled players,” she added. “I enjoy being a role model and person that many girls can talk to about things on and off the court.”. 

McFarland explained that the team’s strategy is to wear down the other team.

“Our speed as a team is remarkable,’ she wrote.

“Players have lots of club experience,” Aletor said. “There’s lots of good energy and we are never quiet.” 

She also mentioned some skills that the team needs to improve on.

“We lose our energy, then our communication is off,” McFarland wrote. “Volleyball is a sport where it doesn’t work if you don’t communicate. 

“When we get stuck in a bad rotation we lose points,” Aletor said.

“I believe this season will advance further than any team has in Beachwood history,” McFarland wrote. “If we continue to play and remain humble, you will hear great things about this team.” 

The team plays at Cornerstone this Saturday. The next home game is Tuesday Sept. 10th at 6:00 p.m. against Geneva.