The combination of excitement and nerves makes minutes feel like hours in anticipation for a game. Pregame anxiety is very common and can be beneficial; however, when it becomes an endless spiral of negative possibilities, it can start having adverse effects on your game.
To combat anxiety, libero Charlotte Hackett ’26, says, “It’s really important to visualize what could go right.” She described the pressure going on in her head as “negative thoughts that reinforce the idea that I’m not good enough.” Hackett expressed that having a positive track in her head reduces those thoughts and lowers the pressure around the game.
Middle hitter Grace Trinacty ’26, reminds herself that, “it’s just a game… I might be upset for one day, but it’s not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.”
When asked about how the season is going, she said, “I’m feeling like it’s going really good. I mean, some of our most recent games haven’t gone the way that we wanted, [but] I think our team is really strong this year and that we are doing great things.”
Hackett also distinguished the importance of a team: “A lot of times, athletes put a lot of pressure on solely themselves…just know that your teammates are there no matter how many mistakes you make.”
At the end of the day, a win is something that comes and goes, but your teammates will always be there.
