Playing it tough: Cavs stay physical
By Kyle O'Connor | September 22, 2005Don't be fooled by the spandex shorts, the ponytails and the high-fives. If you think volleyball is a sport for the beach or a backyard barbecue, watch Virginia's Stephanie Everett dive for a potential dig, crashing headlong into the team bench and then running right back into the action. You might also notice Sarah Kirkwood, who wrapped up a painful hand injury halfway through last weekend's championship game, not only return to the action, but serve another five aces. These girls might not be playing a contact sport, but they're some of the toughest athletes in Charlottesville. "There's not a lot of person-to-person contact in volleyball, but it is pretty physical because they're always jumping, running, diving for the ball, hitting the floor," volleyball trainer Katie Serenelli said. On the basketball court, players prefer to stay on their feet.
