RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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CARROLL – Bloom-Carroll senior volleyball player Alya Mitchell was in a tough spot last year while she watched her friends enjoy an historic season.
Mitchell played on the jayvee team as a sophomore and again as a junior, before getting injured. Like any high school athlete, she probably felt like she was good enough to play varsity, especially as a junior, but she had some outstanding players ahead of her.
What set Mitchell apart, though, was her perseverance and willingness not to make it about herself. While it would have been easy for her to quit or cause trouble, she took the opposite route. She cheered for teammates and was happy for their success as the Bulldogs finished with a 27-2 overall record and were the Division III state runner-up.
“It is mentally challenging,” Mitchell said. “But it was still exciting watching your friends and teammates, and you learn to be happy for everyone around you. The program is bigger than any of us, and if you want to be a part of it, sometimes you have to wait your turn. It’s not easy, but you have to have a disciplined mindset. I have learned to be patient through it all. It is exciting to be a part of what we accomplished last year.”
More: A privilege to cover Bloom-Carroll's historic volleyball state tournament run | Wilson
Bloom-Carroll coach Kyle McFerin said players like Mitchell are rare in a day and age where everyone wants instant gratification.
“She is a program kid, and she has waited her turn,” McFerin said. “She was behind some outstanding players. It is hard for juniors to play JV and I understand that, but she continued to work hard every day and did the best she could. It says a lot about her character. She didn’t get what she wanted, and a lot of times, kids today look for something different. She had a goal, and she kept working and working.
That is a life lesson. You have to figure things out and work through them. She kept showing up and really enjoyed what she was doing. She focused on what she was doing, and she continued to develop. It has always been team first for Ayla, and that is a different mentality than a lot of kids have. It’s not about you. You are part of something bigger than you. She understands that better than most.”
Because Mitchell stayed the course and continued to work, she looks primed to have a huge year.
“I have played with more confidence, and that is huge for me,” Mitchell said. “I feel like waiting has made me hungry, and I’m excited to get out there. Last year was difficult, but I have so much love for this sport, and if that’s what needed to happen for me to be where I am today, I was fine waiting. I feel like I have a lot to prove.”
Even though the Bulldogs lost a talented group of seniors, there is still plenty of talent returning, including Josie Burr, Kylynne Sollberger, Renee Smith, Maddie Fox, and Kylee Reiser, to enable the Bulldogs to contend for another league title and a deep tournament run.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Bloom-Carroll Mitchell waits for her turn, and it's about to pay off
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