It was my senior year of high school and I had finally made it on the boys varsity volleyball team. I‘ve loved volleyball ever since I was a little kid. I remember looking up to the varsity players. They were like my idols. I only dreamed of being as good as they were with their perfect passes, huge hops, and killer hits! I was a good little player but I was always the smallest on my team. In volleyball, height is a big advantage that I never had. Growing up, I was always the setter. Once I finally made it on the varsity team I became another position. I was now a defensive specialist and the back-up setter. This change was hard for me but I was just glad that I could still play. Senior year, my team made it to the final championship tournament in Southern California. We made it through to the second round. We were going up against Mater Dei, a private school that had a higher ranked team than us.
This match was a battle! We played the best three out of five games. Points were going back and forth until the last play of game four, when our star setter twisted his ankle. We had lost that game, but we had one last chance to beat this amazing team and of course, our setter couldn’t play. As my teammate was laying there in pain I thought about what had to happen. Right then I about fainted. I knew exactly what had to happen… I had to play as the setter for the second time all season long. I was scared to death because the first time I played as the setter, I single handedly lost the game for my team. This was bad news. I was so nervous I didn’t know what to do. But then I heard something. It was my coaches wife in the stands, chanting my name. Next thing I know my teammates are looking at me with hope in their eyes, giving me confidence; telling me, “You got this Cory. No problem!”
One little boost of confidence can go a long way. At this exact moment, a very calm and confident feeling came over me. I knew I could do it. Game five was rough but I played better than I have ever played before; and in the end, we came out on top. Winning that game was an amazing feeling. I stepped into game five being the smallest player on the court, but I believe I stepped on with the most support. I know for a fact that I could have never played as well as I did if it wasn’t for the belief and great support of my teammates, coaches, friends, and family. I learned that if I had that same support throughout my entire life, I can accomplish anything. I think everyone needs the power of support in their life. “This I believe”.