The ideal athlete not only works to better herself as much as possible, but also strives to better those around them. Bridget Dougan, a defensive player on the CHS volleyball team, fulfills both of those criteria.
“I try to keep going and keep everyone else positive as well,” Dougan said.
Dougan is the libero on the team, a strictly defensive player whose job it is to add ball control to the court and keep the ball in play. Because the libero has no offensive duties, they are largely responsible for maintaining the team’s defense.
Dougan has not only proved herself capable of handling this responsibility, she has shown that she can excel at this position.
Already this season, Dougan has 38 digs (the receiving of a spiked or hard hit ball), six aces, and has the best serve-receive percentage on the team with 93%.
“Bridget has been very consistent this season,” said varisty head coach Liz Hickox. “Her consistency and work ethic are what sets her apart on the team.”
Junior Nikki Tomova agrees that Dougan has made herself stand out. Tomova plays defense with Dougan on the team and has played with Dougan for the past five years.
“Bridget’s really good at defense,” said Tomova. “She talks well to the rest of the defense to let them know where the hit is going.”
Dougan’s level of play is the result of years of hard work. Since sixth grade, Dougan has pushed herself so that she can reach her full potential.
“I’ve played almost every position on the court,” said Dougan. “Over the years, I’ve improved a lot on serving, passing, and hitting.”
Despite her many accomplishments, Dougan isn’t planning to stop working any time soon. She’s still dedicated to working on anything that could help improve her play.
“I want to work on keeping my feet moving throughout the game this year and getting to the ball,” said Dougan.
Dougan’s work ethic hasn’t gone unnoticed, her team and her coach are all witnesses to the effort she has put into her game.
“Bridget leads by example,” said Hickox. “She has great work ethic and she’s always wanting to improve and play more.”
However, Dougan’s performance is only one aspect of her playing. Above all else, Dougan is an exemplary teammate.
Sophomore Katherine DeBoer recognizes the notable effect Dougan has on the team.
“Everyone feeds off of Bridget’s positive energy,” said DeBoer. “We all do better when she’s on the floor cheering us on and pumping everyone up.”
Tomova echoes DeBoer’s sentiments about Dougan’s value as a teammate.
“Bridget is always smiling,” said Tomova. “She’s good friends with everyone on the team and really motivates them.”
Such a high level of comfort with the team is perhaps a product of Dougan’s experience level. As a returning Varsity player, Dougan has begun to come into her own as a player.
“This year, Bridget is a lot more seasoned and comfortable” said Hickox. “She’s really coming into her seniority, and I can see the improvement from last year to this year.”
Though plenty has changed through the years of Dougan’s playing, one thing has remained constant: her love for the game.
“I love the momentum of volleyball and how close you can be with your team,” said Dougan. “I look forward to the rest of the year.”