As the whistle blows and feet shuffle, varsity volleyball player Meg Kern ’16 avoids the timid monologue athletes psych themselves out with. When the pressure becomes overwhelming, Kern turns to positive thoughts to make her feel more confident on the court.

“Before each serve I bounce the ball twice,” Kern said. “I always wear a headband and I have to high five each player on the team before each game.”

The superstitions began when she started playing club volleyball for First Alliance her freshman year, Kern said.

“Usually I feel like I play worse when I don’t do my superstition routines,” Kern said. “During a club game last year I forgot to wear a headband and I felt like I had the worst game of my life.”

Though Kern has a routine of her own, the varsity team also likes to stick to tradition. Last year the LT girls varsity volleyball team did a game day cheer before every game, she said.

“I think most of the people on our team are pretty superstitious,” Kern said. “Some people don’t even wash their knee pads for like the entire season, which is kind of gross!”

Having been playing volleyball competitively for almost four years, these superstition routines come naturally when she is playing, she said.

“Some people are really superstitious and other people say it’s stupid that you are doing that,” Kern said. “I’m really superstitious when it comes to volleyball and I think [my superstitions] work.”