Athlete of the Week: Liv Chandonnait, Belmont High School

Belmont’s two-time first-team all-state volleyball player, Liv Chandonnait, is entering her senior season and is looking for another chance to take her team to the top.

The Red Raiders volleyball team fell short in the quarterfinals the past two years, but has boasted strong regular-season performances to get into the state tournament.

Chandonnait, an outside hitter and libero, is the only returning captain for the team and will lead a squad with significant experience under its belt.

Before the fall season starts, she discussed some of the ways she’s worked toward becoming a better individual player, student, and teammate to perform at the highest level.

Q: What do you think it takes to be good at volleyball?

A: I think that there are so many different variables and overall aspects that contribute to becoming a good volleyball player. Some might say that to be a good volleyball player is to be intelligent on the court. Some might say that training technique and consistency are what it takes. And some might say that mentally, if you are confident in yourself and strong enough to let things go, that is all it takes. I think all of these concepts play a key role and hold a high level of importance in becoming good at volleyball. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about volleyball?

A: I enjoy the friendships I’ve created throughout the years while playing volleyball and the overall discipline and determination it’s given me as a person. I also find enjoyment through growing with my teammates and watching our success pan out through all of the hard work we put in. I find that there are many rewarding aspects to playing volleyball, whether it’s a social or physical aspect. 

Q: What’s the most difficult aspect of playing as an outside hitter?

A: I would say that the most difficult aspect of playing as an outside hitter is the ability to be mentally strong enough. As an outside hitter, we are constantly playing with little to no subs. With that being said, we can definitely struggle with brushing previous plays off and continuing on with a better mindset. I think that being mentally tough helps me significantly with my overall performance and ability to do my job as a player and a teammate. 

Q: Who was the toughest opponent you faced and why?

A: I would say that our toughest opponent we faced was Trinity High School in the quarter finals last season. We were neck-and-neck with them for the semifinals. We hadn’t played a team with a student section louder than ours, and I believe that the competition between our student section and theirs helped with the intensity. I feel they were the toughest because they were so similar to us! They had trust in each other and overall such a strong connection with one another. They kept us on our toes and greedy for the next point. We went 5 long sets with them, and unfortunately lost by 2 in the final set. It was the toughest loss due to the immense amount of hard work our team had put in for not only ourselves but for our four deeply appreciated seniors. 

Q: What excites you most about this upcoming season?

A: I’m most excited to see how far our team will go. I am confident that this team has the strongest connection and ability to achieve success this season. Overall, I would say that I am excited to win with the people that I enjoy and appreciate the most. 

Q: How did it feel to make the All-State First Team?

A: To make first team all-state two years in a row felt very rewarding. I felt grateful that my effort was seen by not only my teammates and coaches, but others, as well. I was stunned that I could achieve such an accomplishment in only my sophomore year, but then to receive it again in my junior year, I felt and still feel so blessed. 

Q: What has motivated you to become a better athlete?

A: I would say that my motivation to become a better athlete comes from two different aspects. One being how I was raised, which was that if I was going to commit to something, then I was going to give it my all, all of the time. Another stem of my motivation comes from the enjoyment I derive while playing with amazing coaches, teammates, and family all around me. They set high standards for me, and want to see me succeed, which helps me to push forward even when it’s tough. 

Q: How do you prepare for a big game?

A: I prepare for a big game by nourishing my body with whole and healthy foods, as well as lots of electrolytes! I also like to have all of my to-dos done so that I can focus on the game and the game only, without worrying about nagging tasks in the back of my head. I like to mentally prepare for every game by putting myself into a good headspace through praying and chatting with my peers. Lastly, I will focus on my weaknesses the most at practice without overworking my strengths. 

Q: What does your training regimen look like in preparation for a season?

A: My training regimen usually consists of eating fueling foods, getting as much sleep as I can, and moving my body every day. Even if it’s only a quick little pickleball game I still love to be active. I also try to make it to the gym or get some volleyball reps in when I can. To prepare for the season I enjoy doing private lessons with a trainer as well! 

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of balancing school and sports, and how do you manage it? 

A: Balancing school and sports is not easy! I try to do as much as I can in school, but everyone knows that is definitely a challenge sometimes. Especially after a long game the night before! Therefore, I like to set aside time after school before practice to finish up some work either by myself or with some of my friends.

I would say the most challenging aspect of balancing school and sports is just time management. There are times when I would be writing essays on the bus ride to and from the away games and times when I was up later than I should have been, just trying to get some work done. I also found that trying to squeeze some social life and lounge time was a struggle at times, but once I could manage my time a little bit better, it became easier to get my work done with some remaining time for activities I wanted to do! 

Q: What’s your favorite part about being a Belmont Red Raider?

A: I love being a Belmont Red Raider because not only do we have the most supportive students, but we also have very hard-working teachers and staff. We have diversity in clubs, academics, and athletics, and I would say we have such a strong community to back us.