Unified Volleyball: Growing as a Player and as a Person

By Kenzee Hampton 

Unified and walking away third in the state, the Owasso Unified Volleyball Team just finished their state tournament in their first year competing. The team worked hard to show everyone their talents—an achievement that deserves to be celebrated. 

Photo of the unified volleyball team taken by Cambry Shields.

This season has been amazing for our unified Owasso athletes, yet the beginning of the season was rough. The team was unable to have practice during the summertime and, once they were finally able to practice, two of their athletes got COVID-19. They were only able to have one full practice before their first game. 

Despite setbacks due to not practicing, the Unified Volleyball Team pushed through their first game with brilliant plays and beautiful smiles. They continued to practice and play with the mindsets of winners. 

Their last few games were challenging and they had some losses, but it didn’t ruin the athletes’ joy and determination for the game and their team. The athletes this year have shown their coaches the love they have for representing their school through athletics. Even with the adversities of this season, they kept their heads up. The coach, Stephani Barger, is in awe of how amazing her athletes are.  

Photo of two mentors and an athlete cheering on their teammates taken by Cambry Sheilds

She states, “They have rolled with the punches [this season] and kept their spirits up the entire time. [One of my athletes] Ninah Edwards, improved the most overall. She really shined during our last two games.” 

The season has been a learning curve for everyone—especially because volleyball is new to the Special Olympics. The word Unified, as in the title, represents when a Special Olympic athlete partners up with one of their peers, otherwise known as their mentor. Peer mentors are students that volunteer to help them daily in the classroom and, in this case, on the volleyball court. The more the coaches and mentors learn as the season goes on, the better the athletes play. 

With good attitudes and open mindsets, the Unified Volleyball Team was willing to learn and grow. As the season went on, they bettered themselves on and off the volleyball court. 

The coaches explain what they are looking for in their athletes in the upcoming season saying, “ [I want to see the team] communicating with each other and improving our basic skill set. I think having real practice next year will greatly improve.”

Their goal this season on their road to state was to give it their all, stay positive and support the team no matter what. 

“We were very nervous going into state,” recalls Barger. 

Nevertheless, the team powered through and was beyond proud of all they accomplished. They finished third in the state. 

“We went from not understanding what volleyball was to an actual full-on awesome unified team,” exclaims Barger, “ Mrs. Carr, [my assistant coach] and I could not be more proud of the team they became.”

The Owasso Unified Volleyball Team ended the season better than when they started, and that is a great way to end their first year. 

Photo of “Ram Pride Play Unified” poster taken by Kenzee Hampton