I first encountered volleyball when I was in first grade. My father, who was a junior high school teacher and advisor to the volleyball club, took me to a volleyball club he knew. I started volleyball because my father encouraged me, but as I practiced and combined well, I found it enjoyable every time I could do more. I went on to a powerhouse school that competed nationwide in junior high and high school, and I believe I was able to keep playing volleyball even amid tough training because I enjoyed "getting stronger."

I heard from seniors from the same high school that each member of the J. F. Oberlin University girls' volleyball team is kind and plays in a friendly atmosphere, which made me feel a different kind of charm from the stoic training in high school. I also dreamed of becoming a junior high school teacher, so I decided to enroll in a J. F. Oberlin University where I could balance studying and volleyball. What impressed me when I actually participated in practice was that the seniors were cheerful and everyone enjoyed volleyball together. Seeing each other praise each other's play and training together toward the goal of promotion to the first division made me want to become stronger with this team and contribute even a little.

In 2020, the spring league and other tournaments we usually participate in were canceled one after another due to the impact of the coronavirus. The gymnasium was also closed, and there were many days when we couldn't practice as we wanted. When we took a break from practice, I felt anxious that the things we had built up up to that point, such as the feel for setting the ball exactly where we wanted, were fading away. "But we still had to do what we could," so we started practicing remotely. Connecting with the team members on Zoom and going through the practice menu together gave us the reassurance that we weren't alone, which boosted our morale.

Then came the Autumn Division 2 League in November, which was my first official match since entering university. Normally, winning the Division 2 league and then the promotion/relegation playoff would get us promoted to Division 1, but the playoff was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing the tears of the fourth-year students for whom this was their last chance, I was filled with regret. However, even though they lost hope of promotion to Division 1, the fourth-year students did not lose heart, and as a result of continuing to practice, we were able to achieve our long-cherished dream of winning the Autumn League undefeated. I realized that with a strong heart, looking forward and continuing to run, you can achieve your goals.

The role I play as a setter is to raise accurate tosses so that spikers can perform at their best. I learn daily that communication is essential for that. J. F. Oberlin University 's girls' volleyball club has a hierarchical relationship, but they get along well across grades and create an environment where it's easy to absorb teammates' opinions. Setters share the characteristics of each spiker and ask the spiker where they want each toss to be placed during practice. The joy of being a setter is being able to coordinate with the spiker and control the flow of the game. My goal is to make as many tosses as possible that lead to more points and contribute to the team.

From the attitude of our seniors toward last year's autumn league, I realized that no matter what happens, thinking about what needs to be done "now" and continuing practice is what strengths me. Moving forward, the team's goal is to continue being promoted to the first division, but due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we don't know when the opportunity will come. That's why I want to give my all in the "now" and enjoy working on it.