DANVILLE — As the curtain falls on another high school volleyball season, Danville head coach Morgan Spitler has found a tangible way to reward players whose performances exceed expectations, one game at a time.
It is not Wilson the Volleyball from the movie “Castaway,” but it is the GOLDEN VOLLEYBALL.
“We do a senior leadership seminar during our off-season. My seniors and I came up with something that was a reward, more than just a win or a loss,” Spitler said.
The team votes on the player who, for that particular game, displayed the characteristics of the acronym FACTS: Family, Accountability, Character, Toughness, and Selflessness.
Senior Captain Avery Mezie has received the Golden Volleyball and explained what being selected by teammates means to her.
“The ball represents FACTS. We get to pick who deserves it more each game, so it is very important to us,” she said.
Kayley Sheldon, Danville’s senior co-captain, also knows how it feels to be recognized.
“People see you working hard on and off the court and being a team player. Being there for your team and your family and not just yourself,” she said about receiving the honor.
Spitler believes it is important to recognize the hard work of the players, whether they win or lose, and understands that there is more to the game than getting the ball over the net.
“We do this after every game regardless of the outcome,” she said. “It is about positive energy. Somebody who is playing their butt off, is a great teammate, [displays] all of the aspects of FACTS, then they get rewarded.”
The Golden Volleyball means more than just winning
Everyone on the team is eligible to win the Golden Volleyball, whether it’s on the JV or varsity squad.
“They get the ball and keep it in their locker until the next game,” Spitler said.
Spitler believes that looking forward to the award helps soften the blow of a rough outcome on the court.
“Volleyball is such a mental game. Winning is hard, and so when you do it, it is awesome. But coming off a loss is even harder, so having something that is more than a win or loss means a lot,” she said.
The coach hopes the Golden Volleyball lessons will remain with the players long after graduation.
“We are all about being a team, all about representing positive energy, being selfless and growing 100 percent at all times,” Spitler said.
“When we can reward that, even if we are winning or losing, that’s a good thing for us.”
The Lady Blue Devils will close their regular season on the road against rival East Knox on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m.