Introduction and Background of Addi Anderson and Kali Berggren
- Jason Kasanezky introduces himself and the purpose of the interview, featuring Addie Anderson and Kali Berggren, two standout volleyball players from the DC program.
- Addie shares her introduction to volleyball, starting in fifth grade with her mom's encouragement and joining school ball in seventh grade.
- Kali's volleyball journey is similar, starting in fifth grade and joining varsity in her third year.
- Jason asks about their positions, and Addie explains she is a setter and occasionally plays on the outside, while Kali is the Libero, responsible for defense and serving.
Roles and Responsibilities of Setters and Liberos
- Addie describes the role of a setter, emphasizing their leadership on the court, running the offense, and communicating with passers and hitters.
- Jason confirms Addie's role as the second hitter, and she explains the process of setting and hitting.
- Kali explains her role as the Libero, commanding the service receive, identifying seams, and directing front-row hitters.
- Addie highlights the importance of flexibility in their positions, especially when a taller player moves to her position for a bigger block.
Film Sessions and Team Strategy
- Jason discusses the strategic nature of volleyball, mentioning Sharon Anderson's (Addie's mom) strategy and film sessions.
- Addie explains the Friday morning film sessions, where they review games in slow motion, focusing on details like pausing at the peak of the ball's height.
- Jason asks about the emotional impact of watching film, and Addie and Kali discuss the importance of understanding and improving their game.
- The team uses paper to write down instructions from film sessions, helping them stay focused on their goals.
Tournament Experience and Team Dynamics
- Jason inquires about their recent tournament experience, and Addie describes a long day of volleyball, starting at 5 AM and ending at 10 PM.
- The team played three games of pool play, winning two comfortably and losing one closely, learning to maintain confidence.
- Kali shares that they placed first in their pool and advanced to the gold bracket, beating Highland Park and Legacy Christian in the championship.
- Addie highlights the importance of controlling their controllables, maintaining aggressive serving, and improving their defense and transition.
Impact of the Sideline and Community Support
- Jason asks about the impact of the sideline on their performance, and Kali and Addie credit the sideline for maintaining energy and hype.
- The team had 13 players travel to the game, including three shared players between JV and varsity.
- Addie mentions the importance of having a supportive sideline, especially after Kelly Nimola sprained her ankle during pool play.
- Jason discusses the community support and the impact of high school football players cheering for the volleyball team.
Key Memories and Team Bonding
- Jason asks about their favorite high school volleyball memories, and Addie shares memories of games against Maple Lake, Litchfield, and Eagle Ridge.
- Kali recalls winning games against Litchfield and Kimball, and the excitement of team sleepovers and bonding activities.
- Addie mentions a tradition of going to Kelly's cabin after the Annandale scrimmage, where they play games like Spikeball and bags.
- Jason emphasizes the importance of winning and the excitement of playing in front of a supportive student section.
Advice for Younger Players and Future Goals
- Jason asks for advice for younger players, and Addie encourages them to put themselves out there and not be afraid of making mistakes.
- Kali advises younger players to keep pushing and never give up, even if they don't get the position they want.
- Addie emphasizes the importance of relationships and being supportive to younger players.
- Jason asks about their future goals, and Addie expresses her desire to play volleyball in college, possibly at Crown College.
Team Goals and Motivation
- Jason inquires about the team's goals for the season, and Kali and Addie aim for a winning season and to be ready for sections.
- Addie highlights the importance of controlling their controllables and not needing to blow out every team to be good.
- Jason asks about their motivation, and Addie and Kali both express a desire to always be better and to leave no regrets on the court.
- Jason asks about their plans to play volleyball after high school, and Kali mentions her interest in coaching and staying involved in the sport.
Team Dynamics and Parental Involvement
- Jason asks about their parents' involvement, and Kali mentions her parents' new motto of staying positive.
- Addie shares that her parents help her stay positive and support her when she's down.
- Jason asks about other sports they play, and Kali mentions rejoining basketball and playing track, while Addie participates in gymnastics and track.
- Jason discusses the impact of their parents' support and the bonding experience of playing volleyball with their mom.
Final Thoughts and Excitement for the Season
- Jason asks about their message to the students, and Kali advises them to stay hype and supportive, even during tough games.
- Addie emphasizes the importance of maintaining energy and being supportive.
- Jason discusses the importance of community support and the impact of the student section on the team's performance.
- Jason thanks the players for their time and wishes them the best of luck for the upcoming season, expressing excitement for the first game against Maple Lake.
