NEW ORLEANS – Ahead of the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship in Huntsville, Ala., April 25-27, the league’s “Top Tandem’” series will share interviews highlighting student-athletes representing the duos penciled into the No. 1 spot of each program’s lineup during the season.
Featured in the next edition of “Top Tandem’” is Mercer junior Sydney Benson (Golden, Colo.) and sophomore Kate Hardie (Rustburg, Va.).
Before a match, what is your mindset knowing you’re likely competing against an opponent’s best duo each time you play?
Benson: I think it's important for us to remember that each team we play against is just another team. Their coach has confidence in them to compete to the best of their abilities, but we know that our coach also feels that way about us. Anybody can win on any given day.
Hardie: My mindset has shifted from the beginning of the season. In the beginning, I put a lot of pressure on myself knowing that I needed to play almost error-free to make sure my partner and I had a chance to win. However, by having that mindset it didn’t really get me anywhere. One thing I always remind myself is that I need to play confidently and for the love of the game because I can compete with these other pairs.
Do you feel a sense of responsibility for your team playing on Court No. 1?
Benson: I don’t feel any more sense of responsibility than I did when I played on the 2s or the 3s. Each pair is equally as important. If we lose our match but three other pairs win their matches, then we win as a whole. A win on court No. 5 is just as important as a win on court No. 1
Hardie: Yes, at the beginning of the season I put a lot of responsibility and pressure on myself. As the season has kept going, I have realized that, although I am competing on the No. 1 court, it’s just another game and I need to give myself grace at the end of the day. I love to remind myself of who and what I am playing for - like my university, family, friends and young volleyball players at home! By reminding myself these things, it allows me to feel a sense of peace before I go onto the court.
In what areas do you believe you’ve developed chemistry as a duo? How long did/does it take to start realizing you’re learning more about your teammate and improving together?
Benson: Kate and I have become really good friends off the court more than anything. We always got along well, but I feel like I know her so much better than I did before we started playing together. Since our friendship has grown, we communicate on the court a lot better and are able to have hard conversations when it comes to performance or things we need to change.
Hardie: I believe that Sydney and I have developed chemistry in several aspects as a duo such as trust, communication and respect. On the court, we are very serious and want to succeed, but we remind ourselves that we need to have fun in the matches because that’s truly when we do our best. Our growth as a duo really started to happen with our win against Austin Peay at the Georgia State tournament. That win really set the tone and our expectations as a pair! I am so thankful to be partners with Sydney this year! We’ve had some great matches, and I can’t wait to continue to play along her side in the conference tournament!
What has helped you emerge as leaders on the team, and how are you impacting your teammates?
Benson: I have worked hard to create good relationships with my teammates and know that they respect what I have to say. I think the most important part of all of that is leading by example. If Kate and I believe that we can compete with or beat a team, then why shouldn’t everyone else also believe that of themselves?
Hardie: Typically, I think that any pair that is in the No. 1 pair has respect from their team. Sydney and I have a great friendship with everyone on our team which really has allowed us to be seen as their friends, teammates and leaders. Along with respect, I think that the experience that we have playing and as individuals has helped us emerge as leaders.
In what ways do you believe you have experienced growth on the court between last season and this season?
Benson: My biggest point of growth from last season to this season is confidence in myself. A lot of that I must thank Coach Marsh and Coach Crotty for. They believe that I can compete at the No. 1 pair, and their confidence in me has never wavered. My teammates also have instilled confidence in me and have made it apparent to me that they believe I can represent them and play for them at the No. 1 pair. Of course, Kate is someone I am probably the most thankful for. Together, we push each other to be better, and her work ethic makes me want to work harder and be better for her.
Hardie: Last year as a freshman, I was a full-time blocker, whereas this year, I am a full-time defender. It was a complete switch that I was really excited about. I am grateful that Coach Marsh has given me this opportunity because I love being able to defend! This has allowed me to grow as a player by becoming faster, having the opportunity to touch more balls and being able to hit more. Also, I would say that my focus and confidence has grown a lot this season due to Sydney trusting me as her defender. I always want to “better the ball” each play so that we can succeed throughout the game.