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10/14/2016 12:00 AMBella DelVecchio decided to give volleyball a try as a freshman at North Haven because she felt welcomed by the program’s upperclass athletes. Bella earned a spot on the Indians’ varsity squad at the conclusion of her very first tryout and she hasn’t looked back.
“I hadn’t played before besides at backyard picnics, so I didn’t know what I was doing. I think I just had underlying athletic ability, so that’s what got me on the team,” says Bella, who’s now a senior captain. “It was pretty daunting. The older girls were intimidating to me, even as accepting as they were. I wanted everybody to like me and think I was good. I felt like I had to prove something all the time, but they rallied around me, so it was helpful.”
Bella played all around the court as a freshman, but was given a libero jersey during her sophomore season and has called the defensive specialist position home ever since. Bella says that she’s always been interested in the defensive aspect of volleyball and that’s why libero has been a great spot for her on the floor through the past three years.
“Offense is good for stats, the paper, and for show, but defense wins games, and that is why I enjoy it. I consider being the primary defensive player an honor because I think it’s not easy and I accept that challenge,” says Bella. “When you get a big hitter on the other side slamming the ball in your face, there’s something about the adrenaline rush you get after you dig that ball up, and that’s what I enjoy the most.”
Bella finished with 98 serve receives and 77 digs last season. Through the team’s first 13 matches this year, Bella has recorded 277 serve receives and 139 digs. Bella believes that her positioning, plus her newfound ability to dive, are key reasons for her success this fall.
“There’s a lot of reading the hitter and setter. You have to watch it come out of the setter’s hand. From there, you can tell where the hitter is going to hit it. You have to set up low and in the right spot. If not, the ball is going to hit the floor,” says Bella. “This year, I’ve been able to track the ball more and, when I’m wrong, I can dive to dig them up.”
Brianna Kleckner says that Bella inspires her teammates with her work ethic and that’s made life a little easier on the first-year head coach this season.
“In simple terms, we’re lucky to have her. She’s incredibly talented and overall just a good student-athlete,” says Kleckner. “She’s essential in our game play and we do very well with her because of how hard she works and her constant drive to do her absolute best. She’s a role model in every sense of the term.”
These are some of the reasons why Bella is one of North Haven’s captains this year. Bella knows that she needs to keep the Indians’ energy up while manning the middle of the court and she’s grown into her leadership role throughout the season.
“I was really honored. That means the team thinks something of you in terms of talent and ability to be a role model. I wasn’t really a leader in terms of my vocal leading. It was more of a, go on the court and lead with a demonstrative way,” says Bella. “A big thing for me is I wanted to make sure I wanted to be captain and for them to know how much I cared. I wanted them to know without me communicating it verbally how much I cared and how much I wanted to lead the team.”
Even though North Haven has struggled the past few years, Bella feels proud of her teammates for the way they are approaching each practice and every game in the 2016 campaign.
“We’re capable of a winning season. I don’t consider it just on the scoreboard, though. We have to refuse to lose and we are,” Bella says. “Our work ethic this year, we have a new determination that’s going to push us to the playoffs. I’m very proud of this team.”