Meet Creekview Boys Volleyball Club member Eli Gilbert
CANTON, Ga. — Eli Gilbert is a junior at Creekview High School and a returning member of the inaugural Creekview High School Boys Volleyball Club. He has been playing volleyball for the last four years through A5 Pure Volleyball club in Roswell and is currently a member of the 17-1 Karson team. Last year, he joined the Creekview High School boys volleyball club team and helped drive their successful first season鈥攁ll the way to earning a 2nd place spot in the state championship.
After narrowly missing the state champion title last year, Eli shares that his goal for this season is for their team to win this year鈥檚 championship game. Personally, he aspires to continue playing volleyball as a collegiate athlete.
Connection among his teammates鈥攚here every member of the team has to do their job, communicate, and always be on the same page for it all to run smoothly鈥攊s what Eli loves the most about volleyball.
Being a part of a team has taught Eli that it is not about one individual person, but rather everyone needs to be involved. Beyond that, everyone must be an equal because if one person messes up then everyone faces the consequences. He says, 鈥淚t has taught me that I need to take responsibility for my actions and hold others accountable.鈥�
Eli recognizes that, 鈥淭his is the only time in my life that I’ll be where I am doing what I am doing, so don’t take it for granted.鈥� And for his fellow athletes, he shares what he has learned: 鈥淭ake the game one play at a time, don’t think about the past plays, your previous errors, or good plays. Nor think about what you can do five plays from now, only concern yourself with what is going on in that moment.鈥�
In order to stay prepared for competing, Eli works to stay physically healthy by utilizing stretching, ice, rehab, strength training, and exercise as much as possible. Before each game, he does a 30-second breathing method to settle his nerves and clear his head so that he can focus only on the game. He also reminds himself, 鈥淚t’s just a game, but it’s MY game, and I need to give my full effort every play.鈥�
When he is not on a field, court, or in a pool, Eli enjoys playing video games because they improve his motor skills and allow him to relax and have fun with friends.
Recalling a time when he made a mistake and how he recovered from it, Eli recalls, 鈥淚t was game point at a tournament in Florida, 24-22, the other team was winning, I called for a 鈥榞o鈥� ball, got the set, and bombed it out of bounds. On the first play of the second set, I called for the same ball, got set, and bounced it right through the block at the feet of the middle back defender, setting the tone for my team.鈥�
Eli shares this advice for his peers, 鈥淟ots of kids my age get caught up in what they could do, how athletic they could be, and comparing themselves to the best of the best. The only way you can become the best version of yourself, is if you focus on your game, your progress, and listen to the people that are supporting you, and helping you. Progress takes time, perfection is unrealistic, consistency is how you succeed.鈥�
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