Much can be said about volleyball as a sport. Some will tell you it’s a team-building sport. Others might say it’s a grueling challenge. And some people might just say it’s a fun hobby. As for junior Jaeveon Manuel, he says all of the above. For his third year playing, he has more to share than just highlight reels.
“I almost didn’t do it because it was just a lot of work and a lot of school,” Manuel said. “I’m also realistic with myself, like, definitely on my physical limitations. I know myself. I know what I can and can’t do.”
Starting out as a kid, however, Manuel had no previous experience with volleyball. It was his older sisters who gave him the push to try new things.
“I was more of a gymnastics kid. I liked to flip, I liked to do splits and all that,” Manuel said. “But I have two older sisters, so once I saw them playing volleyball, I got really into it. I would say around the age of 7 or 8, I really started getting into volleyball.”
While he reminisced, he stated that his childhood was mostly full of male–dominated sports, such as basketball and football. However, upon seeing volleyball and noticing that there was a mix of both male and female players, he got much more interested, and it developed into the hobby that he takes pride in today.
Of course, not all the action in volleyball is on the court. Manuel describes enjoying sharing his hobby with others, and even just observing his teammates from the bench.
“On the bench, you see things slower, and you get to analyze things more,” Manuel said. “You get to talk to your teammates from the bench, telling them what you need to do, what you think they should do, how [a] block is coming, how you see things more perfectly… so when you get back into the game, you know ‘I need to look for this, I need to look for that’… It gives you more of a perspective on, ‘ok, how should I play?’ And I just love that because you don’t get it anywhere else.”
All in all, Manuel has his heart set on continuing volleyball. He takes great care to emphasize how important it is to have a good environment, and how a good coach and a good team are everything.
“Volleyball is not just a single–person sport; it’s a team sport. So, it all depends on how you see your team, how you view your teammates, how you view coaches… because a good coach can really make you start thinking about things differently and improve not only yourself, but your teammates too,” Manuel said.
Between taking his practices to the gym, socializing with teammates and having fun serving the ball, Manuel expresses his love for the sport in every aspect. His goals and his visions may not be volleyball-centered, but as a hobby, it certainly won’t be going anywhere. He says that what is truly important is communication and learning from the best.
“Always make sure to communicate with your team of what you feel is needed, because you can think you’re doing the best you can do, but your team may be struggling,” Manuel said. “If you don’t communicate your frustration, that can build up inside you and make you start playing more selfish, instead of with your team. So always take it slow, watch pros and communicate with your team.”
