The 2013
season hasn't started the way the St. Louis Community College Archers women's
volleyball team expected. The Archers are 0-6-1 on the season, but the team is
still managing to be optimistic. Freshman Sammie Weaver has been helping the
Archers compete this year anyway she can. The freshman is having a fine start
to the season and should continue that success for the rest of the season.
Weaver
actually didn't play for her high school volleyball team. “I actually didn't
play volleyball in high school. I played softball instead because the two
sports overlapped,” she explained. “I played club ball though, and the
competition varied from better teams than we face now to much lower.”
It was a
meeting with her coach one day that led her to the Archers team. “I contacted
Johnna, my head coach, and she had me come out for a tryout. She had me set
(I'm a setter) and hit, and right away she offered me a position on the team,”
she said. Weaver is realistic about her expectations for the rest of the year
and knows that her team works hard when they step out on the court. “I'm not
expecting us to finish with a winning season because unfortunately it just
isn't realistic. We have a wide variety of skill level,” said Weaver. “Our team
plays with a lot of heart, and because of that, we can compete with everyone we
play. My expectation for our team to improve our team chemistry so we can
hopefully get some more W's. For myself, I am hoping to improve my skill level
to prepare me for higher level ball.”
Weaver
has not let playing on a higher level affect her. “My expectations for college
volleyball were about what I expected them to be. We practice very hard
everyday, and the sport pretty much consumes all of my time. College volleyball
is much stricter than any other sport I've played. We have a lot of rules to
follow, and we very much suffer when they are broken.” It seems as if the only
thing that has fazed Weaver about being a college athlete is her hectic and
busy schedule. The average college athlete can't handle the workload.
Weaver
admits that it has been tough but is manageable, “I used to work almost
everyday, and I now can only work on Sundays because of volleyball,” she said.
“It's hard committing all of my time. It's tough balancing school, volleyball,
work, and a social life, but it honestly only keeps me focused on the important
things. I was offered a spot on the Meramec softball team for the spring
season, but I am still debating if I am actually going to play.” If Weaver
continues her hard work and determination, nothing should be out of reach.
Making
the best out of a free education is something admirable about Weaver. “I am in
the pre-dental program, and I am on the A+ program at STLCC. I am hoping to get
a volleyball scholarship to a university after my two free years are over to
continue my education for orthodontics.” For Weaver, the sky is the limit.
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