Imagine being in a very intense, conditioned volleyball program that focuses more on

running on a track and lifting in a weight room than drills that involve a volleyball. Players being

so sore that they can’t get out of bed in the morning, but still try to keep a positive mindset.

Hannah Lee and Haley Mahnken, two juniors who have been a part of Hebron Volleyball

program for four years now, are still struggling to wake up with a positive mindset. But with the

help of Coach Rachel Buckley the girls mindset are not that negative. Buckley was in the

Hebron volleyball program herself from freshman to senior year, and won the state

championship in 2010, and got a scholarship to college. So she's been in the girls shoes, and

throughout those years she kept a positive attitude.

“I knew that I wanted to win the state championship,” Buckley said. “and I wanted a

scholarship.”

In fact, she did just that, she got a scholarship into North Carolina State. There in

College is when her positivity went downhill.

“Being far away from home and when my mom died,” Buckley said, “those things

definitely challenged me to stay positive.”

But she knew that staying negative wasn't going to help her succeed.

“Seeing my best friend lose both of her parents and just spiral downwards, I knew that I

didn't want to do that and I need to figure out a change,” Buckley goes on, “and the only other

change was to choose positive.”

She chose to always look on the brighter side of things, and always reminded herself

that it’s okay.

“I get down on myself all the time,” Buckley said. “but then i have to remind myself that

it's okay.”
 But someone with a not so positive mindset, Haley Mahnken, doesn't feel the same way.

3 years into the program, Mahnken has felt that her mindset has gotten better from Buckley.

“It hasn't always been positive,” Mahnken said. “But, with Coach Buckley it's gotten a

little better.”

The thing that really gets the girls in Tuesdays and Thursdays during off season, these

are the days they run hard and go to the weightroom.

“I feel nauseous,” Mahnken said, “ I get scared cause i hate running, and it makes me

scared.”

But Buckley knows that feeling herself, because when she was in the program they did

the same things.

“It is definitely easier for me to sit there on the track now,” Buckley said, “not having to

run, just there motivating you guys and making sure people's mindsets are right.”

Both Lee and Mahnken admire Coach Buckley, Buckley's positivity is very helpful to the

girls along on the court and on the track and the weightroom.

“Coach buckley makes it easier when we’re working out and i respect her alot,” Mahnken

said. “So I want to do good and she's been here before so she knows how it is.”

And Buckley positivity is so powerful that she doesn't even have to influence the girls

verbally.

“ I really love being around her because of her positive attitude,” Lee said, “It rubs off on

me and makes it slightly better.”

Although the girls mindsets aren't so negative on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

which are skill days. On those days in offseason the girls focus more on volleyball skills.

“ My mind set is a lot better than tuesdays and thursdays, because we get to listen to

music and its more fun.”Mahnken said.

 Although the girls are very nervous in the program they still work hard. They still strive to

get good running times and better themselves in the weightroom.

“ I only have one year left, and this was my last year of offseason,” Lee said, “ So i

wanted to go out pretty good.”

But while being a coach to other girls, Buckley is also a teen leadership teacher at the 9

grade campus, which also teaches kids to be positive, and more confident in themselves, which

may include giving a speech in front of the whole class. She also feels that her life would be

different if she didn't see things on the brighter side.

“I don't think i would have this job if I thought negatively all the time,” Buckley said, “I

would have ever probably made it back here and back coaching and teaching if that was my

mindset.”