Riley Guy is a junior volleyball player that has been playing since her eighth grade year. She is a DS (defensive specialist) and also the team’s libero.
Guy’s routine before the game consists of playing music to clear her mind, and she keeps an energy drink on her at all times. Before a volleyball game, she sets a goal for herself. She wants to have something to improve on with her team.
Guy motivates herself with the knowledge of her possibilities and the want to demonstrate her abilities to the girls.
“The potential I know I have and the constant feeling that I need to prove myself. But I am also determined to never let my team or coaches down. I never want to be the person that loses the game for the team,” says Guy.
Losing a game for her depends on how the team played. Guy considers herself a competitive person, so losing can be an embarrassing and disappointing moment for her. However, if the team played the best they possibly could and had fun together it has the ability to feel better than a win ever could.
Guy’s competitiveness shows when the team wins; it’s a beautiful moment for her and the girls.
“I don’t think there is a better feeling than winning a game with your teammates. It’s a different kind of feeling to know all the hard work pays off in the end,” says Guy.
Her junior year was everything that she had hoped for; she feels the coaching system was done really well. It doesn’t feel real to Guy that her senior season is starting; she remembers the first day of her freshman season. She is excited for the year though and thinks they will prove themselves beautifully to the conference team.
She is looking forward to her senior season and the benefits. However, the nostalgia is approaching with the thought of her final game.
“It’s all bittersweet. I’m excited for the season and to have all the perks of being a senior, but it’s also really scary the thought of taking my shoes and pads off for the last time makes my stomach turn,” says Guy.
Guy plans to attend college and study veterinarian science, she is undecided where she’ll go. She will not be playing volleyball collegiately, she would like to make it something she can look back on from her high school years.
