Nora Nemec doesn’t just lead the volleyball team; she sets the standard for herself and her team. As a junior captain, her actions speak much louder than words.
“Holding myself accountable for things like, if I’m telling the rest of the team that they need to set up the net, I know that I’m also there to not only lead, but also lead by example,” said Nemec.
Becoming a captain as a junior is a really big responsibility. She has to show the team that they made the right decision and that they’ll know who to pick next year. Nemec’s value in accountability also goes to her role in creating an even closer and supportive team. She finds the tradition of big sister and little sister meaningful.
“It really helps us get a bond with someone who’s not in our grade,” said Nemec. “Last year, if I had a question or I needed advice, I went to my big sister.”
Having friendships like these on a team can inspire you to play better for them and overall do your best.
Doing your best also comes with eating the right food. For Nemec the right food isn’t just chips or a sandwich: it’s Nerd’s Gummy Clusters.
“I always play well when I eat Nerd’s Gummy Clusters,” said Nemec.
When she did off-season over the summer and ate Nerd’s Gummy Cluster for the first time before a meet, her coaches were shocked.
“After camp one of my coaches came up to me and was like ‘what did you eat this morning?’ ” said Nemec. “It was literally just Nerds Gummy Clusters.”
Having a certain food that helps you do well can inspire people to try it. The team doesn’t always have Nerd Gummy Clusters but when they do, they play spectacularly.
Last year, Nemec played in NVLs with a group that made her feel good about herself and confident. Being able to play at NVLs is also a big accomplishment, especially as a sophomore at the time.
Having that confidence from then to now is great for being a leader. During hard games, she always powers through to get that win and helps her team get more confident with the sport, like how she found that confidence last year.
“It was such an amazing experience just to be a part of with all the seniors last year,” said Nemec. “It was so confidence boosting.”
