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- Inspiring Volleyball Stories
- Sharkie Zartman Inspiring Volleyball Story
Volleyball Stories
Sharkie Zartman
One of the world's famous volleyball players, Sharkie Zartman, describes what it’s like to be “obsessed.”
Sports and games were always my passion.
When I was young, the kids went out and played--We made up our own games, our own rules, our own teams and would have fun for hours and hours on end.
I always loved PE, but we had a teacher who was very strict and took most of the fun out of sports.
Still, it was worth putting up with to get to run, jump, compete and play with my friends at school.
When I was old enough to make the school teams I tried out for all the sports.
Even though I wasn't the best athlete in those days, the competition to make a team was somewhat limited, since most girls that I knew had "moved" to other more important feminine things--like makeup and boys.
I loved all sports and continued to play them in high school.
Volleyball Stories
Sharkie Zartman
My parents were a great support to me, but I knew they were a little concerned that their second daughter had not outgrown her "tomboy" stage.
Most of my grammar school friends stopped playing sports in high school and became cheerleaders, which did not appeal to me at all.
I didn't want to cheer, I wanted to play!
At some point, I gravitated towards volleyball as my favorite sport.
It wasn't that I was good at it---I just liked how I felt when I played.
After school I would go to the beach and play with my friends.
We used to pretend that we were the US volleyball team playing against Japan.
When my friends went home I would stay and go up and down the beach looking for volleyball games.
I guess you could say that I was obsessed.
One day my high school volleyball coach asked if she could talk to me.
I thought that she was going to tell me how good I was, since I used to throw my body on the floor all the time to get the ball--it didn't matter how many bruises I had.
To my surprise, she told me that she thought I should QUIT volleyball.
She said that I was too short, too uncoordinated and I should stop playing volleyball before I hurt myself.
I was shocked! I was mad! I was hurt! I also think that at this moment I turned my life around. I felt very determined to prove her wrong.
Volleyball Stories
Sharkie Zartman
My search began for someone who would help me. I wasn't ready to give up volleyball and I didn't just want to play anymore--I wanted to be good!
One of my friends told me of a teacher at our school who went on trips to the volleyball nationals and played on a team.
He told stories of how great the volleyball teams were, and about some outstanding female volleyball players---like Mary Jo Peppler.
I knew I had to talk to him and ask him to help me. I asked Mr. Zartman if he would teach me how to be good enough to go to a National Tournament like the ones he described.
He told me if I got some friends that were athletes together that he would coach us!
So I did!
Unfortunately, most of my friends were not what you would call athletes, even though Pat taught us how to play, the "Ramrods" did not play well enough to go to the Nationals. Some of the girls would scream and duck when the ball came to them.
The next year, we got some great volleyball players. Linda Lehde and Rose Duncan to name a few.
We also changed our name to the Spoilers! We actually qualified for our first National Championships!
We were off to Hawaii! I remember how excited I was to see all the great players that Pat had talked about.
We even got to play against Mary Jo Peppler!
As the years went on we had several great athletes come onto our volleyball team. I'll never forget when Flo Hyman came to play with us! What a sweet person.
I remember at the start she was very shy and somewhat self conscious about her height (6'5").
It didn't take Flo long to fit in with our energetic style and enthusiasm. We also had Elaine Roque in her first year of club.
She was so young and timid at the start we used to call her '"Pampers".
In 1977, the Spoilers won their first National title! We beat an "unbeatable" Adidas team.
What a feeling! We were so excited that we all jumped in the pool at the hotel after and one of our volleyball players broke her toe.
Volleyball has given me a lot in my life--many titles, awards, experiences, best friends, a sense of accomplishment, and oh yes, my husband.
Eventually I married Pat.
We have been married for 28 years. Our daughters both play volleyball. We even revived the "Spoilers" for Teri and Chrissie and their friends.
My family has learned a lot about ourselves, each other, and everyone we have come in contact with through this sport.
I really believe that the purpose in our life is to experience it as fully as we can.
It's almost ironic how things come to be. I could have quit when my coach suggested that I do so for my own good.
Volleyball Stories
Sharkie Zartman
However, I think we all intuitively know what we want to do with our lives.
Following your heart will always get you where you want to go.
Let God work out the details.
This story is an excerpt from Sharkie Zartman's book "Shark Sense" and is reprinted here with permission.
Get more volleyball info on Sharkie Zartman.
This excerpt was contributed by Sharkie Zartman exclusively for the Volleyball Voices project created and produced by April Chapple.
No reproduction is allowed. All rights reserved. Volleyball Voices copyright 2019-20.
Read more about Sharkie Zartman and the other professional volleyball players in the pages below.
Heather Bown, Middle Hitter and American Olympic Silver Medalist
The untold story of how Olympic Silver Medalist Heather Bown gained confidence in her volleyball skills
Laurel Brassey Iversen, A Girl Volleyball Player Better Than The Boys
Laurel Brassey Iversen, first called a "runt" by her brothers friends when she wanted to play ball with them, later became an Olympic volleyball player.
Mary Jo Peppler The Female Volleyball Player America Had To Respect
Mary Jo Peppler "The Female Volleyball Player America Had To Respect" written by Mary Jo Peppler for the Volleyball Voices project produced by April Chapple.
Middle Hitter Volleyball Stories Elaina Oden on Being A Good Player
World class middle hitter, US Olympic bronze medalist and professional volleyball player Elaina Oden shares her volleyball story on what motivated her as a teen
Nina Matthies, Womens Pro Beach Volleyball Association's Founder
Former Pepperdine head volleyball coach Nina Matthies created the WPVA, America's first pro beach volleyball tour for women and shares her inspiring story
Get Inspired By 8 Pro Volleyball Players Personal Volleyball Stories
Get motivated by the volleyball stories told by inspiring female pro volleyball players with their personal stories of overcoming obstacles. Be inspired!
The Shortest Volleyball Player on the Court US Olympian Debbie Green
Debbie Green, Olympic silver medalist setter describes what it's like to be "the shortest volleyball player" on the team
Kim Oden 2x Olympian The Tallest Volleyball Player On the Court
This story "The Tallest Volleyball Player on the Team" was written by Kim Oden for the Volleyball Voices Volleyball stories project by April Chapple.
Teee Williams Olympic Bronze Medalist Tells Her Volleyball Story
Olympian Teee Williams learned how to became a better volleyball player, through faith and her will to never give up learning about the game no matter what.
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AUTHOR BIO
April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.
She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend
Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.
- the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
- named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
- former USA National team member
- one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist
April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match
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