By Madyson Montoya — Staff Writer
Beach volleyball requires a pair to share the action, share the responsibility and most importantly work together. No positions, just a partner.
Senior Julia Golbeck and freshman Sarah Smevog took the sand this season in the No. 5 position.
The two were paired together at the beginning of the season, Golbeck coming off an injury and Smevog entering her first-collegiate beach season.
Prior to the season, there were doubts that the pair would be able to work together, because of a mix in their experience levels and their similar size but it seemed to work well for the two.
“It’s just a good dynamic to have a senior with a freshman,” Golbeck said. “That way you can teach them and help them figure out how to compete at a collegiate level.”
Golbeck was partnered with a senior when she was a freshman and now the tables have turned. She’s been given the chance to be the mentor.
It is a true partnership in the sport of beach volleyball. No person has any more control over the game than the other.
“You just have to be able to communicate what you want with each other,” Smevog said. “You have to be able to receive [feedback].”
Smevog spent the fall playing indoor volleyball while Golbeck strictly stuck to the sand. Since Smevog is a freshman, being paired with Golbeck was really the first contact they had as teammates.
“It doesn’t work if you hate each other,” Smevog said. “It doesn’t work if you’re too good of friends and are afraid of hurting each other’s feelings.”
This new and fresh relationship seemed to be the key to success for the pair. They were able to make the physical part of the game a priority then the chemistry clicked naturally.
“I think it’s good that we didn’t really know each other,” Smevog said.
The duo had to overcome the fact that they are simply not as tall as a lot of their competitors. Smevog stands at 5-foot-5, which puts her at an advantage when passing during indoor season.
However, beach volleyball requires both participants to be strong spikers.
“We had to learn how to trick the other teams because we’re not as big and physical as a lot of other teams,” Golbeck said. “We have to be smarter.”
Throughout the season, the two played with a unique strategy and were able to go undefeated for eight straight matches.
The team is divided into six-ranked pairs,with the sixth being an exhibition match. The No. 1 pairs play each other and those tend to be the strongest competitors on the team.
“We started in the fives this year, so I had a chip on my shoulder, and was like ‘we’re going to win all of these,’” Golbeck said.
Although Smevog is a freshman, she has been playing beach volleyball since she was in eighth grade, so the transition to the sand from the court was not difficult. Golbeck only plays beach and played in the No. 2 position last year.
“I thought I could compete at a higher level as well,” Smevog said. “We all did.”
Being in the fives is what gave the pair the motivation to win every match and eventually they moved up to compete in the No. 3 position.
It was never about a winning streak for Golbeck and Smevog. The two of them agreed that they didn’t even notice that they were undefeated because it’s a team sport.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re winning and the team isn’t because ultimately it’s a loss for you,” Golbeck said.
Despite the difference in experience and lack of chemistry in the beginning, the duo has become the most successful pair on the team with a current record of 15-3.
With the season behind them, Golbeck is going to be graduating while Smevog will have big feet to fill next year as a veteran.
Follow Madyson on Twitter @MadysonMontoya