I started playing volleyball when I was in fourth grade, inspired by a friend's invitation. Since then, I have played solely as a spiker for over ten years.
The first time I hit a dead end was in high school. It was a strong team with tough training, so I struggled to show my true self and was anxious because I wasn't performing as I hoped. At that time, the person who reached out to me was Kazuki Takayama, a senior from back then who is now the captain of the J. F. Oberlin University boys' volleyball team. He encouraged me during play and also got close off the court. That experience gradually helped me express my true self and felt a sense of satisfaction in my play. Once I fit into the team, my combination play improves, which leads to victory and makes me enjoy volleyball even more. In university volleyball, I want to further hone my skills and become a player who can be relied upon, not just by being helped. With that in mind, I wanted to stand on the court again with Kazuki and decided to attend Obirin.

Right after enrolling, I had the opportunity to start on the court. I was fairly confident in my mobility, but I was still very nervous. Maybe I was overly concerned about the expectations around me. But at that moment, the cheerfulness of the seniors around me really saved me. I remember being happy to be on a good team.
J. F. Oberlin University 's volleyball club values communication, starting with encouraging others. It's a comfortable team where you don't get bound by the hierarchy of senior-junior, and you can rely on and be treated without hesitation. Captain Takayama also consults with me, a junior, about important matters like team practice. He often incorporates their opinions. In athletic clubs, it's rare to have such a flat relationship, so I appreciate it.
I think it was this team that helped me break free from the vicious cycle of struggling alone when I tended to make emotional plays that led to mistakes. By organizing my feelings and communicating them clearly to those around me, and stopping getting emotional, my own play has stabilized, and I think the team's overall awareness has improved.

This year's goal is to finish 6th or higher in the Kanto Division 2 league. There are still challenges, but the J. F. Oberlin University volleyball club values communication and everyone has their own opinions. We are confident we can still grow. In fact, since entering the current fourth year, I feel that the direction the team aims for has become clearer. What purpose does each daily practice have, and what kind of mindset should we have in approaching it? With guidance from our seniors, the members' attitude toward practice has clearly changed. We are deeply grateful to the seniors who explain everything thoroughly. When we become fourth graders, we want to inherit what we learned from the seniors and aim to become an ideal team.

Personally, I want to further hone myself to achieve team goals and contribute to the J. F. Oberlin University volleyball club. I will work daily through practice to become a player who can confidently say, "I am the ace."