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Wildcats' leader can get 'bossy'

Senior Sami Polston's leadership helps Wesley Chapel just as much as her skills. But it hasn't always been easy for her.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published October 6, 2005

WESLEY CHAPEL - In every other sport Sami Polston played, mistakes resulted in stern lectures from coaches, a spot on the bench or, sometimes, both.

So when she played volleyball for the first time three years ago, Polston was surprised to find players more often received second chances or pats on the back.

Leading a team not accustomed to tough love has been a particularly tricky proposition for the vocal senior. The same tactics that motivate her sometimes turn off her teammates.

"I'm a little bossy, I guess," Polston said. "I always tell people what to do, but then I also ask for advice, too, from my coach - "What did I do wrong that time?' - I'm just a person that wants to know, "Did I mess up?' I guess I figure that other people want to know, too."

Polston, a leftside hitter, has a knack for knowing when to spike the ball, when to tip it and where to place it, as evidenced by her team-leading 112 kills entering Wednesday's match at Hudson.

She also had 23 aces and five digs, but her most important contribution is her leadership.

"Being the new coach, she's helped me step up and just know the players' strengths and weaknesses," Wesley Chapel coach Laura Lee Hawkins said. "She's an awesome player, a leader. She definitely has the most competitive attitude on the team. When we get in the huddle, if we're doing bad, she's like, "Guys, pump it up.' She knows where players are supposed to be and how to play the game."

There was a time Polston knew more about basketball, where she plays shooting guard and small forward. She took up volleyball as a freshman at the suggestion of former Wesley Chapel coach Julie Marks, one of her elementary school teachers.

As the years progressed, Polston found herself devoting less time to basketball (which she still plays) than volleyball, which she now hopes to play in college.

Before she leaves Wesley Chapel, Polston has a few more things she wants to accomplish. She would like to see the Wildcats play more as a team, win more than the six matches they did a year ago and play well in the district tournament.

Wesley Chapel (6-9) already has matched its win total from last season, when, she says, infighting divided the team. The Wildcats' first - and biggest victory - came against Ridgewood on Sept.8.

After winning the first two games of the match, Wesley Chapel was edged in the third. Fearing her disappointed teammates would give up, Polston took advantage of the opportunity to challenge them.

"Guys, look at them," Polston said she told her teammates. "They're huffing and puffing, and they all want water. Are you guys tired?"

When they said, "No," Polston replied, "Exactly."

"We had the physical stamina to beat them," Polston said. "I was like, "If we can just play a smart game and keep putting the ball down, we're going to tire them out,' and we did."

Though Polston's words likely had an effect, she said a discussion she and her teammates had on the bus ride to the match, in which they agreed to maintain a positive attitude and not blame others for mistakes, played a bigger role.

While it might not come naturally, Polston said she is making a greater effort to stay positive with her teammates.

But she still manages to get her point across.

"Sometimes, I'll be like, "Yeah, that's your ball. Duh, we've been doing this all season,' but I know I can't say that because it's not positive," Polston said. "And it's not going to help them any, and they're going to get more frustrated with me. And I'm going to get more frustrated with them." "So sometimes, I'll just stop and take a deep breath and (say), "Yeah, that was yours, but you know ...,' and then they get that when I say, "You know ...,' they need to get that (ball). I don't need to tell them."

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]