On the surface, volleyball is a seemingly simple sport, but for those on the court, it’s a mental battle of perseverance and strategy. But these difficulties don’t stop the Pius X players as they relentlessly practice and perfect their plays.

The team consists of 33 players and is divided into three sections based on a player’s experience with the sport. However, each athlete gives their all to help benefit the team, regardless of which section they belong to.

“(The team) is still very young, but it’s coming together well,” said Katie Wenz, head coach of the volleyball team. “Everyone comes from different backgrounds with different experiences, but everyone is motivated to win.”

Wenz has been coaching for 17 years total, and this is her ninth year at Pius X. Her approach to coaching is to see each player as a person before an athlete.

“I want to make kids better people, athletes, and students,” Wenz said. “It’s not just about the sport, it’s about the players.”

The team is working to improve, but Wenz is impressed with how the team has grown in recent games.

“We’ve gotten better at responding to defeat after one point,” she said. “It’s always a mental battle with yourself and we’ve done a good job at overcoming that.”

Volleyball can be challenging at times, but it also can bring players closer together.

“I enjoy the environment and how competitive it can get, but also how unitive it is,” said Faith Venable, a junior on the team. “At the same time as you’re playing and competing with one team, you’re working with your own teammates.”

Kaylee Weigel, a senior who has played all the way through high school, agrees that the game creates unity among players.

“I enjoy the people I get to play with and knowing the team on a deeper level,” Weigel said. “It’s so much fun to play with people you like and you’re comfortable with.”

Weigel plans to continue playing volleyball at York University after high school.

Wenz believes the most important aspect of volleyball is the person rather than the athlete.

“There are 33 kids on this team and every single one of them matters and makes the team better,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re on the court or on the bench or what, every player matters.”