"There is Nothing Better Than..."

Since most of fall term was spent in a class-gym-library cycle, with some sleeping and eating here and there, this winter we (the freshman) have really gotten a chance to get involved with all the wonderful things here at Dartmouth. By far the best thing we’ve done this winter was helping out at the Girls & Women in Sports Clinic in Lebanon. We had the opportunity to teach kids ranging from 5-12 some basic volleyball skills, showing them how to pass, set, and over-hand serve. We all got a chance to explain each skill, which gave me a new appreciation for coaches who work with younger players. It was beyond adorable watching a group of 5-year-old girls, most of whom the ball was bigger than, pass & set back and forth.


Sports have played such a huge role in my life, eventually allowing me to be at Dartmouth, so being able to give some of that back was amazing. While most of those girls won’t become professional volleyball players, being able to show them what sports can add to your life was the best way to give back to my new community here at Dartmouth.

Another great thing about being a female athlete is the chance to bond with the other teams here at Dartmouth. The women’s field hockey and soccer teams were also at the clinic with us, giving us the change to spend time with other athletes. The athletic community is so strong here at Dartmouth, and being able to bond with other freshman athletes is a great experience. We are all going through winter training and experiencing our first out of season term, giving us so many things in common (but mostly, we can all bond over being sore all the time!). Having more free time this term allows us to explore all the great things Dartmouth offers, both through the athletic department and the school itself.


There is nothing better than being able to share what I love and introduce volleyball to younger girls, and I wouldn’t want to be doing it with any other team or any where other than Dartmouth.

-Elisa Scudder ’14, Ashburn, VA