Anyone who has played club volleyball knows that it isn't a sport, it's a lifestyle. Countless hours of conditioning, practice, travel, and team bonding add up pretty quickly. But the thrill of a qualifier match, memories with your teammates, and knowing all of your hard work has paid off make this game so worthwhile. Even if you aren't playing anymore, you are still a volleyball player at heart. Here are 15 signs to show you how!
1. You spent way too much money on tournament t-shirts.
"Mom, we have to buy it. It's for the memories".
2. In fact, you probably have a quilt made out of them.
What else were you supposed to do with all of those size smalls?
3. You know your way around every convention center in the country.
Denver, Baltimore, Reno. Yeah, you're a pro.
4. The words "pancake" and "pepper" aren't talking about food.
"That pancake was so good. Someone, please get it up."
5. The volleyball emoji makes you mad.
Why did it take so long to be made? Posts from tournaments and team sleepovers circa 2012 would've been so much cuter with it.
6. You could never find a good pair of jeans.
Too small in the thighs, too big in the waist.
7. You had "school friends" and "club friends".
You were basically living a double life from October to June.
8. You know everyone in the volleyball world.
You probably still follow them on social media, too (even if you've never spoken a word to each other).
9. Accidentally texting your old teammate makes you want to crawl into a hole.
"I didn't even know I still had her number! I'm so embarrassed, at least it wasn't my coach".
10. That feeling when you see someone you played against in public.
"Do I say hi? She hit me in the face once".
11. You still wear spandex under all of your dresses.
You have too many to let them go to waste.
12. You're still mad that nationals were never in Hawaii.
C'mon, it's not that far.
13. You panicked a bit (or a lot) when you played your last club game.
"What am I going to do with all this free time? I already miss my team! I'm going to get fat!".
14. Playing in intramural games hurts your soul.
"If I see one more underhand serve..."
15. You don't regret it one bit.
Even if the conditioning, early tournaments, and insane training schedules sucked, you wouldn't trade these experiences and friends for the world.
