Volleyball Commits 200 Hours to Community Service
5/17/2017 11:26:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana volleyball team engaged in over 200 hours of community service during the spring semester.
Reaching out and being part of the community is something very important to the program and this semester the students did a variety of activities.
"Giving back is part of our culture here in athletics and in our program," IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I am extremely proud of this group and the number of hours they dedicated to making a difference in Bloomington and Ellettsville. They touched a lot of lives in a short period of time and after hearing many of their stories, our student-athletes had their lives touched as well."
On Tuesday, the team was recognized at the Boys and Girls Club Award Banquet as the Ladies Auxiliary Volunteer Group of the Year.
During the semester, Jessica Leish, Kendall Beerman and Deyshia Lofton regularly spent time at the Boys and Girls Club in Ellettsville. They helped kids with homework and life skills and played games with the children. The team also did several volleyball clinics at the Boys and Girls Club.
"I enjoy spending time at the Boys and Girls Club and they have just a positive outlook on life," Leish said. They always seem to put a smile on my face."
Members of the team also went to the Meadowood Retirement Community. Ally Badowski, Hayden Huybers, Meaghan Koors and Samantha Fogg helped the residents with technology questions as well as social programming and being there to talk to the residents.
"It's nice to be able to surround yourself with people who are so intelligent and have so much to offer," Fogg said. "By the end of my time there this spring I would have people come in and just talk to me about life, which was so much appreciated. I am hoping I get the opportunity to go back there again next spring."
Jessica Admire spent time at the Bloomington Animal Shelter and Elizabeth Asdell volunteered at the Bloomington Children's Therapy Hospital. Victoria Brisack spent time during the spring semester at Girls, INC.
Brisack officiated weekly volleyball matches at Girls, INC, and developed friendships with 6-11-year-old girls.
"The coolest part for me was watching each girl's immense growth over the course of the season, both in volleyball and socially with their teammates," Brisack said. "By the end of the year, 6 and 7 year olds, who could barely serve the ball over the net from the ten-foot line when the league first started, were keeping rallies alive and diving all over the floor. A wonderful 10-year-old girl, who was so shy and unsure that she would rarely even look at anyone, was joking and laughing with her teammates."
"The idea that I, even in a small part, was able to help these girls become stronger, more independent, and confident in themselves is so unbelievably rewarding," Brisack added. "I can't wait until next spring when I get to do it all over again."
Reaching out and being part of the community is something very important to the program and this semester the students did a variety of activities.
"Giving back is part of our culture here in athletics and in our program," IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I am extremely proud of this group and the number of hours they dedicated to making a difference in Bloomington and Ellettsville. They touched a lot of lives in a short period of time and after hearing many of their stories, our student-athletes had their lives touched as well."
On Tuesday, the team was recognized at the Boys and Girls Club Award Banquet as the Ladies Auxiliary Volunteer Group of the Year.
During the semester, Jessica Leish, Kendall Beerman and Deyshia Lofton regularly spent time at the Boys and Girls Club in Ellettsville. They helped kids with homework and life skills and played games with the children. The team also did several volleyball clinics at the Boys and Girls Club.
"I enjoy spending time at the Boys and Girls Club and they have just a positive outlook on life," Leish said. They always seem to put a smile on my face."
Members of the team also went to the Meadowood Retirement Community. Ally Badowski, Hayden Huybers, Meaghan Koors and Samantha Fogg helped the residents with technology questions as well as social programming and being there to talk to the residents.
"It's nice to be able to surround yourself with people who are so intelligent and have so much to offer," Fogg said. "By the end of my time there this spring I would have people come in and just talk to me about life, which was so much appreciated. I am hoping I get the opportunity to go back there again next spring."
Jessica Admire spent time at the Bloomington Animal Shelter and Elizabeth Asdell volunteered at the Bloomington Children's Therapy Hospital. Victoria Brisack spent time during the spring semester at Girls, INC.
Brisack officiated weekly volleyball matches at Girls, INC, and developed friendships with 6-11-year-old girls.
"The coolest part for me was watching each girl's immense growth over the course of the season, both in volleyball and socially with their teammates," Brisack said. "By the end of the year, 6 and 7 year olds, who could barely serve the ball over the net from the ten-foot line when the league first started, were keeping rallies alive and diving all over the floor. A wonderful 10-year-old girl, who was so shy and unsure that she would rarely even look at anyone, was joking and laughing with her teammates."
"The idea that I, even in a small part, was able to help these girls become stronger, more independent, and confident in themselves is so unbelievably rewarding," Brisack added. "I can't wait until next spring when I get to do it all over again."
Players Mentioned
Right Side Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Right Side Hitter
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Outside Hitter
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Outside Hitter
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Setter
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Defensive Specialist
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Middle Blocker
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Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Middle Blocker
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