Senior Airman Jessica Riha shares her experience on the Air Force's Women's Volleyball Team

I have been at Scott AFB for about four years. In this time I have worked at the Nightingale Inn and the Fitness Center. Being a part of the 375th FSS has unwrapped great opportunities to advance my career and broaden experience’s in the Air Force. My recruiter informed me of the All Air Force program which included the only sport I play competitively, volleyball. Arriving at Scott AFB I quickly researched the process to be considered for the All Air Force Volleyball team. The past two years I was unable to submit a 303 form due to squadron manning. Finally, in 2010 doors opened for me to submit my application. I received notification that I was selected to attend the two week training/tryout camp at Hill AFB in Utah. For a few months I had started to work out more and lift weights. My goal was to add a few pounds in muscle because of the position I play. I am a defensive specialist or in this case I was mostly used as the Libero. This means I play in the back row only. Most liberos are stockier or thick with most of their body mass and muscles lying in the legs, thighs and gluts. This allows the player to have a sturdy base and more accurate passes to the setter. I am a bit gangly for a Libero but less weight also means that I am faster than most defensive specialists. Traveling to Utah I was nervous, though I had been working out I hadn’t played volleyball on a competitive level in about five years. Practices were difficult at first. Most of the girls, including myself, where not used to the high altitude, it was more difficult to breath. Beach volleyball was added to the program this year. We learned the rules and techniques of professional beach volleyball; this was a great learning experience. I had played beach volleyball just for fun, six-on-six, however the rules where new and I had never played two-on-two competitively before. We learned how to evaluate the weather conditions and to use it to our advantage. For example, if it is sunny or raining and you must throw a “free ball” over the net send it extremely high over the net so your opponents have to look into the sun or rain which may result in a bad play or lose sight of the ball. Practice was daily and usually two practices or a combination of practice and scrimmages. Personally I received massive bruising on both of my arms. At one point our personal trainer (Brian) made me sit out for a few practices. Brian was afraid that if I didn’t rest my arms and allow them to heal, the constant pounding on tender bruises would result in calcium build up and out of control swelling. If this happened I would be rushed to the hospital with the only option to correct, cutting my arms open and draining the fluid! My right wrist had sustained massive damage; it swelled double its size. Passing the ball usually didn’t hurt if it was a hard hit and I had taken my Ibuprofen. However, during the second week of training Ibuprofen did not dull the pain. By the time I made it back to Scott AFB the bruising was not noticeable, however, there where bulging in the areas where there had been extensive bruising. Throughout our training at Hill AFB and Cherry Point the team built lasting relationships and great camaraderie. We had worked hard to take the championship from the Navy. All of the armed forces teams played well and hard. The Air Force kept rolling to the top of the competition, even though we lost our first match to the Navy. We had one last chance to take the Gold. On the last day of competition we played the Navy and took them to the max games; 5 games. Both the men’s and women’s AF teams took their matches to 5 games and succeeded in capturing a gold medal! Being a part of the All Air Force Volleyball team allowed me to sharpen my skills, learn how far I could push myself and was a great opportunity to meet other military members.