By Sammie Spillman ’16

Volleyball, like all other sports, requires a lot of serious dedication; not just from players but also parents. It separates enthusiasm from the players’ parents who have pushed their children to play the sport, and sometimes, passion can lead to surprising actions.

Tara Campbell, starting hitter for the co-ed volleyball team, is living proof. Recently in one of her travel tournaments, she sprained her ankle while going up for a block. With her school’s co-ed team’s season at a crucial juncture, her absence was a huge loss. It was not clear who could take her place.

Her mother Katherine Campbell, a former high school volleyball player, has been attending each of the games and making a scene about the lack of “good play” as she says. In one match, she received a yellow card for screaming vulgar things at the Warriors and their opponents. “Pick up your pigtails and hit the damn ball!” She then followed with, “Don’t try too hard Sherwood, it may sprain your [bleep] brain!” Shortly after she told some Magruder students that “their volleyball is a good representation of their school, bad and grimy.” The school officials escorted her out of the game; however, she continued, “Whatever! This game wasn’t worth my time or money anyway! It was like watching a bunch of rocks.”

The following week, the Warriors played Damascus, and Katherine Campbell attempted to play in her daughter’s place. She walked in wearing her old, worn-out volleyball gear and her daughter’s jersey. Both teams were in complete shock, and the crowd couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw a 47-year-old woman attempt to sub herself into the game. She walked on the court and started warming up with the team until Sherwood Coach, Bryan Clark intervened, “Exactly what do you think you are doing?” he asked, genuinely bewildered. “I am going to win the game for us Coach!” Campbell eagerly responded. There was a five minute delay as multiple people tried to convince her that she wasn’t allowed to play.

“My mother has always lived vicariously through my volleyball life. I’m honestly not surprised she did that,” said Tara. “It’s kind of embarrassing that my mom takes volleyball to the extreme, but what can I say, she loves the sport.”