A look into one of USM’s club sports
By Amber Friend | Sports Editor
“Live life to the fullest. If you miss out on something, you don’t know what you’ll miss long term” – Stella Fagan.
On Monday, November 4th, at 9:00 at night, Costello gym was still buzzing with life. Women’s club volleyball was hard at work practicing, which had the gym echoing with words of encouragement and laughter. I got the chance to speak to a few of the players, including Emily Barbash and Mia Bella Piazza, seniors on the team who actually started the club their freshman year.
Piazza gave a shout-out to Coach Mirian, “It’s super helpful to have someone to guide us and share knowledge.” Piazza is the team’s president and wants people to know that students are welcome to join at any point. Barbash, the vice president, claims that the team is a “great community and a great way to foster connections.”
Caitlin Guthrie is also a senior on the team who, along with Barbash, claims that the club team is an awesome way to get involved with the school for commuter students. As for the actual playing experience, Guthrie claims that it helps people “work their way up skill levels.”
The club consists of two groups, a more competitive travel team and a more relaxed team, however, the players all practice together with the ability to move up and down levels. Stella Fagan is a junior who heard about the club her freshman year through a club and resource fair. She explained to me that experience is not necessary, “the best part of college is that you can try new things.”
For those interested in joining the team, contact leadership through their instagram account @usmwclubvolleyball. This is how freshman Claudia Lapointe heard about the group, where she’s happy to be a part of a new family. When I asked her what she would tell someone interested in club VB, she said simply, “We’d love to have you…if you’re nervous to join a club, just do it, especially this one”.