‘Girls will be girls,’ jokes the volleyball team captain, Katyayani Sonti, explaining how girls usually don’t turn up for trials of games such as volleyball. ‘So many girls tend to discontinue playing because their hands hurt. Also, the turnout is low because volleyball isn’t a mainstream game. Since people are more acquainted with games like basketball, more people turn up for their trials and also as spectators.’

Despite the problems that come with having a common court for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, practice is in full swing. The court is shared between the two teams, being used for a total of four hours in a day split between the mornings and evenings. The girls’ team has its practice matches in the morning hours, and the conditioning exercise in the evenings, when the court is occupied by the boys’ team.

‘Since we have more new players than the experienced ones, we are concentrating on strengthening our defence instead of attacking,’ says Gita, the former captain of the team. She, too, like most of the team members, asserts that the negative impact of participation in sports on academics is a myth. In fact, most of them believe that playing a sport induces the discipline and focus that may not be obtained otherwise.

‘This year, the girls will be facing two new teams: Gargi College and Maitreyi College. Both the teams will prove to be fine opponents, since they have players who have competed at the national level,’ says the coach as he commands one side of the court to do a ‘front roll’ for carelessly letting the other side make a point. ‘Both the teams have a good blocking side, and both are working hard. However, the players will need a lot of psychological preparation before facing teams with more competitive players.’

With BOSM just around the corner, the team has been practising since August to face the eight outstation teams. Talking of the tradition of having one’s nickname printed on the jersey, Katyayani explains, ‘For some players, it becomes difficult to concentrate on the match when the audience is hooting, calling out their names. The nicknames, other than being a fun thing, are also a tactic to avoid distractions.’

For the fourth-years in the team who have already been placed, the sport is also a way to spend more time on the campus with their teammates. ‘We are usually shouting and quarrelling during the practice drills, but what happens on the court stays on the court,’ says one.

‘I believe that every person must get involved in at least one sport of their choice. It not only helps you stay fit, but also keeps your mind fresh,’ suggests one of the players, while another adds, ‘My sport has given me the kind of happiness and satisfaction I’d never felt otherwise. The practice sessions are now my reason to wake up early and look forward to every morning.’