[Times photo: Brendan Fitterer] The relationships and friendships you develop with your teammates are the very best parts of volleyball says Brie Redfield, who plays on the Pasco-Hernando Community College women’s volleyball team.

Volleyball nets unexpected benefits

Bump, pass, dig, block. These words sound more like football terms than volleyball chatter. But in addition to serve and spike, they mean a lot to the people who play the sport.

Brie Redfield is one of them. Brie, 20, has been playing volleyball for nine years and currently plays on the Pasco-Hernando Community College women's volleyball team. The team recently won the Suncoast Conference title.

Originally called Mintonette, volleyball was created in 1895 by William G. Morgan, the physical education director of the YMCA chapter in Holyoke, Mass. According to the International Volleyball Federation, there are 33-million registered players in the world. Some estimates of the number of recreational players worldwide have reached as high as 800-million.

As the popularity of volleyball has grown, so has its profile in the Olympics. Indoor volleyball joined the Olympics in 1964 in Tokyo. Beach volleyball made its debut at the 1996 games in Atlanta. Junior Olympic volleyball, for ages 18 and younger, came about in 1977, while Junior Olympic beach volleyball was established in 1993.

Brie, a sophomore at PHCC, loves the game. She started playing in the sixth grade at school and then played in clubs and attended several volleyball camps. Next year, she will attend the University of West Florida and hopes to continue playing there.

The Leawood, Kan., native would love to coach when her playing days are over.

The X-Team asked Brie five questions to get to the heart of why volleyball means so much to her.

X-Team: Besides winning, what's the best part of the game?

Brie: The relationships and friendships you develop with your teammates are the very best parts of volleyball. I have met so many truly interesting people through club and school volleyball. Your teammates can help lift your spirits when you need them lifted. For example, when I was in high school, my sister died after a very short illness. My team knew I sang, so they asked me to sing the National Anthem at one of our home games. It was such a nice moment for my mom when she especially needed one! Also, everyone's mom adopts everyone's children and will braid hair, bandage a knee, or give you a ride. The community and fellowship I've gotten from my teammates and surrogate "moms" are things I treasure.

X-Team: What's the most challenging part of volleyball?

Brie: I think it is sometimes challenging to stay "up" when your team is behind in points. That is SO important because volleyball is a mental and physical game. We try to keep our energy level up so we can move through any bad plays or bad calls.

X-Team: Do you get nervous before a tournament?

Brie: Not really, not anymore. When I was younger I used to get sort of an adrenaline rush when my friends (especially my guy friends) would come to watch me play because they would be yelling and clapping for me. Now I've learned to keep my head in the game and on what I'm doing.

X-Team: What advice would you give to other kids who are interested in volleyball?

Brie: I would advise them to listen to their coach. He (or) she will teach you so much about the game. I'd also tell them to try playing in some camps and clubs that are offered locally, and at universities around the country. Besides my coach, Sam Cibrone's camp, my favorite was an incredibly intense one I took at the University of Kansas. It was so awesome to play with girls from all over the U.S.

X-Team: What last things do you have to say about volleyball?

Brie: It is a great sport! I love it and know it has enriched my life and taught me about winning and losing gracefully.

-- Dana Orlando, 11, is a sixth-grader at Seven Springs Middle School in New Port Richey.

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