Photo Courtesy of Edwin Gonzalez 

Nia Surman, a Casper College student athlete from New Zealand, attacks the ball during a recent volleyball game. 

By Carlos Fandal III

In the world of college sports, there’s a quiet champion waiting to take its place in the spotlight. Volleyball, with its unique blend of finesse and power, often operates under the radar. It’s as challenging as any collegiate or professional sport with its quick-paced nature that requires split-second precise decision-making. The necessity of teamwork and communication among players makes it even more demanding, straining players physically and mentally. Still, volleyball is often questionably overshadowed by other major college sports like basketball and football. Head Volleyball Coach Angel Sharman, a twenty-year coaching veteran, spoke to the Chinook about the sport at Casper College. 

“I just think it’s a great and beautiful sport when it’s played well. The athleticism of the athletes out there is just… it’s fun to watch. It’s a complex sport that people don’t understand too much.” Sharman said. 

Sharman’s years of experience illustrate a passion for the sport that goes much further than just having fun. What’s crucial is her commitment to the growth of volleyball, as well as women’s sports as a whole, even if it’s an uphill climb. 

“If our women want to play any kind of sports, they have to go overseas. Their opportunity is just not there like it is with basketball, where they have a little bit more opportunity. If we can get a professional league in the United States to see all these kids continue doing what they love to do and still have their profession, it would be kind of fantastic… Get men’s volleyball here, I think that would help as well,” Sharman said. 

Despite this, the Lady Thunderbirds are in the midst of a remarkable season so far, winning 22 games and losing only 11. Of particular note is the team’s stellar conference record of eight wins and two losses, which mirrors their record on home turf. Midway through September, the Lady T-Birds began a nine-game winning streak, showcasing their prowess with six consecutive shutout victories during this impressive run. Consistency can be tough to maintain, but Sharman manages to keep her team prepared to win.

“We have a goal set. We talked about that at the beginning of the year. And again, we talked about unity with our team, and I think the unity of volleyball is huge. Eight people have to be in sync to be successful because if you have a weak link, the opponent’s going to find that weak link. So you have to have players that trust each other and just are hungry to win. And I think this group is hungry to do that,” Sharman said.

Sharman leads by example for her players and school to keep getting better and better every day.

“If they (The Lady Thunderbirds) see me being a little bit lazy coming into practice, then they’re going to follow those footsteps. We want to keep climbing that mountain. We just need to keep climbing. We talked about 2% — getting better 2% every day. That’s what we’re trying to do” Sharman said.

Volleyball’s journey to the limelight begins with the Thunderbird community. The Lady Thunderbirds are giving their all, and it’s up to the community to rally behind them. By attending games and cheering on the volleyball team, these athletes can shine as the stars they are meant to be.

Sharman’s commitment to unity and improvement is driving their success, setting an example for the entire team. Her vision for volleyball’s growth and opportunities for women in sports paints a bright future for this sport. As volleyball’s star continues to rise, it inches closer to the limelight in college athletics.

As Sharman said, “We want to keep climbing that mountain.”