Love for volleyball reflected in large turn out for Discovery M.S. alumni match
Former Discovery Middle School players and coaches are pictured prior to last week’s annual alumni match against East Middle School.
Currently a rising high school volleyball star for Salem, Elizabeth Nordstrom clearly remembers her competitive introduction to her now-favorite sport during her seventh-grade year at Discovery Middle School.
“Even though both my parents played at a pretty high level, I was pretty bad at first,” Nordstrom recounted, smiling. “I was focused on playing basketball growing up, but I began to love volleyball once I started learning the fundamentals. And I loved playing with all my best friends.”
Nordstrom who has since devoted all of her high school sports time to smashing spheres over nets — not shooting them into nets, said launching her volleyball career before she attended high school was pivotal in her increasingly glowing future in the sport.
“If there is a young girl thinking about getting into volleyball, I would recommend playing in middle school because if you wait until high school, it gets a lot harder because most of the girls trying out will have already played for a few years,” she said.
Impressive alumni turnout
Nordstrom was one of 25 former Eagle players and coaches who returned to the gym where many of them learned the proper techniques for passing, setting and swinging for the program’s annual alumni match Nov. 12.
The robust alumni turnout was a reflection of the fond memories they have of playing a sport that gradually evolved into a big part of their lives.
“It’s such an honor to have some of my former players and Coach (Jennifer) Kwiatkowski’s former players back,” said Discovery Head Coach Luke Haddad. “It’s very humbling that all these players came back to spend the evening with us because they could be doing so many other things.
“It’s a great tradition and can’t wait to do it next year.”
Fun group to coach
Haddad succeeded 20-year coach Jennifer Kwiatkowski last season and revealed he couldn’t be having more fun with this year’s group of up-and-coming players.
“This team has so much heart, they care about their teammates — it’s everything that’s right about sports,” Haddad said. “They don’t focus on stats or winning or any of that; they just want to be there with their friends, be there with their teammates and give it their best. I’m so incredibly proud of this team.
“It’s an amazing group of girls, amazing group of coaches. Not only are they talented, they support each other no matter what.”
‘I love the atmosphere’
Like Nordstrom, Discovery A team player Layla May’s pre-middle school multi-sport regimen included basketball and softball, but not volleyball.
“My first volleyball match ever was here at Discovery last year,” said May, who is an eight-grade standout middle for the Eagles. “I love the atmosphere and everyone on this team. Just everything. It’s such a fun sport and it feels good going right to volleyball practice or a game right after school.”
And the way times flies, before she knows it, May, who will attend Plymouth High School beginning next year, will undoubtedly return for a future alumni game and reminisce about her stellar playing days in the gym that served as her home away from home.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
