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Anita Zhu sets her goals on volleying her way to another championship win for the team

Sami Brown ’18
Anita has loved the experience of playing on the varsity volleyball team for the past four years. As a freshman, Anita earned a spot on the varsity team. Now, she has won two most valuable player awards and has been named one of the captains of the team this year.

Her previous club experience was very different from her Shipley experience. She says that, “club volleyball was not only competitive against the other teams but against your own teammates as well. This is because there can only be six players on the court but about ten to twelve players on the team, so people are competing against each other to get playing time.” She enjoys Shipley volleyball more because she is able to thrive more, it is more cooperative, and she does not have to compete against her teammates.

Anita originally played defense, but after trying out for her club team she became a setter (a key position that sets up the ball for someone else to hit across the net). She has had six years of practice in this position, and it is her best position. 

During her sophomore year, Anita got the more playing time than she had gotten in the previous year, and in turn, learned the most that season. She began to jump set ( jumping to set the ball instead of standing on the ground) every time so all her sets were very accurate. 

As the only freshman on varsity four years ago, she remembers, “It was not as lonely as you would think. The team is very friendly to everyone. Everyone is friends and equals.” This aspect helps foster a cooperative team that can work together. 

Anita explains that “Shipley volleyball has been my favorite volleyball experience. I think that is due in part to Coach Marta Johnson because of the way she supports all of us. Because Marta was a graduate at Shipley, she understands us and the school very well She has really helped all the players not only become better volleyball players, but better teammates. We have a really good team flow, as everyone helps do everything that is needed.” In volleyball, players must rely on their teammates: there is no one star player that can make the team win. Anita says, “Volleyball has not only made me a better player, but prepared me for life because of the teamwork, and now that I am captain, leadership. [Leadership] is a new experience that I really like because I am able to help more of my teammates work together. It is a very special opportunity and I am honored to be on this team.”  

This year, Anita hopes to raise the energy of the team. Even though she is mostly reserved, she is trying to be energetic so the rest of the team will be enthusiastic, helping them to win games. Already, this season the team has won their first game, while their second game was postponed. The team has won the Independent League Championships every year that Anita has played for the team. Hopefully, the team will continue their winning streak this year, and Anita can graduate with four Independent League Championships under her belt.
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814 Yarrow Street
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Phone: 610-525-4300
Fax: 610-525-5082
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.