Back on the dance floor Winter formal held inside

Issue 3 | 29

The Flash | Volume 29

Rocklin High School has added a new sport this year. Varsity girl’s head volleyball coach, David Muscarella, has given the opportunity to any girl to play for Rocklin’s inaugural beach volleyball team. This allows them to still maintain consistent volleyball practice and be in shape for the indoor season if they can’t afford the club’s competitive teams. However, since it is a new program any girl that was interested had to pay for some of the costly tournaments and attire. So far, the students are enjoying the new sport. Stella Mahaffey, a freshmen student at RHS, said, “I think it’s a lot more carefree compared to the indoor school team, and we’re definitely just having fun with it until the program starts to pick up. I’ve heard it’s been pretty easy to balance with clubs, and we don’t have a lot of people to play against so there are a lot fewer tournaments. I’m really enjoying it though, it just takes getting used to.” Since the high school doesn’t have its own sand volleyball court, the team goes to parks around Rocklin and Roseville to practice and compete. Changes between the sand and the indoor court make it not only exciting but also a little difficult for the players. Just like the rest of the sports at RHS, beach volleyball is challenging and eventful. Freshmen athletes, Julia Bray and Emma Swank explain that “the sand is very different from indoor but super good for cardio and getting reps in.” Also, “...there are only 2 people on the court, so you really have to work much harder to win. The tournaments are really long, like 4 games of 3 sets in a row.” Though the program was a spontaneous and exciting decision, there were already other coaches ready to help the sport. Coaches Devon and Courtney

desire to prepare the players for indoor volleyball season, when I think it’s a lot that rolls around in the fall. Seeing as this is a new sport, more carefree and the tournaments would compared to the never be a home event because the high school doesn’t have its indoor school own sand court, most of the school isn’t even aware of this team... athletic addition to the school, “...not that many people know about it because it’s new, but it’s a really good opportunity for people to try playing volleyball for the school who don’t want to do court season,” said Emma Swank. She adds that even people who don’t have experience with volleyball are welcome to join. Beach volleyball is a “no-cut” sport so it allows growth in the players. This decision of the school to add this sport will not be overlooked because how much the players are already enjoying the new program. Even though it is harder than indoor volleyball, and the practice and tournament locations are not convenient, the practice times (two times a week) are very flexible for athletes that have other extracurriculars going on in their schedule. It opens a variety of doors for success and advancement not only for the players, but also for how the program itself will evolve. Story and Initial Design Inspiration by: Madi Kirby, Introduction to Journalism Student