Piper Duryea, ’26, sets the ball during a volleyball game at South Salem High School. Photo taken by Charles Squires.
The positions Duryea plays are Defensive Specialist and Opposite/Outside Hitter. Sometimes the position athletes play can have an impact on them not only physically but also mentally.
“As a Defensive Specialist this year on varsity, I suddenly felt a lot of pressure to be good at that one thing, playing back row. I wanted everything to be perfect so that we could be successful together as a team. A couple of bad passes and I would get in a bad rut and feel like I am making things harder. I guess when I was doing both passing and hitting, I gave myself a break for a mistake here or there. But when you have amazing teammates surrounding you with positivity that want you to be your best, it is hard to be in that mindset,” Duryea said.
Brenna Bradley plays center back and center forward but has had some experience everywhere but goalie. In her opinion, whatever position you play will have you thinking the same, but also differently, as every other player.
“Each position has you thinking in ways that are similar and unique to one another. I think there is generally a lot of pressure on the goalies and forwards, not that they are responsible for the entire outcome but those moments whether they save a shot, or take one can change the whole game and that is what people remember most,” Bradley said.
Finding Things That Make Her Happy Outside Of Volleyball
During Duryea’s sophomore volleyball season, the sport put a toll on her mental health. When it comes to obsessing over the idea of getting faster, stronger and growing as an athlete it can cause an overwhelming feeling that she is not good enough compared to the other girls on her team. Another hard thing is taking a break without feeling like she is falling behind. But recently, Duryea has realized that she needs to also focus on herself to be successful.
Lately, I have come to realize that the only way that I am going to be successful is to focus on myself and not worry about the politics of it all, and do things that make me happy outside of volleyball. You can still have an astonishing work ethic, while also doing things that remind you that you are more than your sport and your unpredictable future,
Duryea said.
Finding Hobbies Like Sports To Keep Her Mind Off Anything Chaotic
It can be hard and stressful getting time to relax and balancing everything else in life when it comes to sports. One thing Bradley thinks is important is to have a hobby like soccer or volleyball that can take her mind off the negative in life and give people something to look forward to every day.
It can definitely be stressful as far as balancing time, but I think it is really important to have something like a sport to focus on when everything else is chaotic. At least for me, it provides a comfortable and familiar environment that gets my mind off of any other issues that are going on in my life,
Bradley said.
Having Doubts About Sports Because Of Feeling Mentally Challenged
Since the new year has begun Duryea has felt very challenged in a short period which has given her doubts about her love for the sport.
I have had to adjust to my surroundings while trying to get better. But I have to admit I have been in a rut where I have felt a regression and mistrust in my skills not just physically but mentally as a leader. It has made me second-guess my dreams, and lower my expectations. I feel for any athlete who felt as though they could not do everything they dreamed of because they didn’t believe in themselves. Honestly, if it were not for my mom, I do not know where I would be right now. Having someone constantly pushing you to be better for yourself and those who depend on you, even if they might not realize it, was a massive game changer for me,
Duryea said.
Wanting to Skip Practice Due To Being Mentally and Physically Tired
Though fully quitting soccer has never crossed Bradley’s mind, She has had times when it has been hard for her to go to practice because of feeling worn out. Especially during a certain season when she feels mentally as well as physically drained.
“I have wanted to skip practice before due to just feeling extremely exhausted. Especially during the winter I feel drained physically and mentally almost all the time and it is hard to want to go out and show up to practice sometimes. Once I am there it is not an issue, but some days it is particularly hard to bring myself to participate,” Bradley said.
Finding it Hard to Find Time to Spend Quality Time with Friends and Family
Even though Bradley has a busy schedule, she does not find it challenging to find time to relax. Instead, she finds it difficult to find the time to spend time with her friends and family.
It is not too hard to find time to relax, but my schedule with soccer does interfere with me being able to hang out with my friends. We are all busy with our own lives and they just rarely line up. I really rely on the people around me so it does get a little overwhelming when I can not be around the people I love,
Bradley said.
Not Being Able To Relax Due To Feeling Like She Is Not Allowed To
On the other hand, when it comes to relaxing Duryea has realized that it has caused her some mental barriers. When she can relax she feels like she is abusing the time to do so.
“I either can not sit still because I think about the hundreds of other things I could be doing that I will not have time to do later, or I lay in bed like a slob feeling just sad that I did not do something more meaningful with my free time. It is finding a healthy medium of ‘relaxing’, and clearing your mind of your long checklist. In the real world, there is no genuine relaxation when surrounded by screens, drama, and an outlandish amount of junk food. But writing out everything on my mind has truly helped me understand what I am feeling. Only writing about myself and what I am feeling specifically is what helps me sleep at night without the stresses of the next day building up in my brain all night,” Duryea said.
