Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Volleyball Impacts Lubbock Community
March 16, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
TTU Therapeutic Riding Center just one of the places the team has been giving back this spring.
According to Merriam-Webster, the word 'improve' is defined as "to enhance in value or quality: make better."
For the Texas Tech volleyball team, much of their spring semester is centered around this word. They work tirelessly in the practice gym, in the weight room and in the classroom. They do this with their sights set on next fall, when they will put all of their hard work on display.
There is also a segment of their semester that isn't fixated on self-improvement. Instead, it's focused on improving their community.
Since the start of February the team has been lending a hand at several places in the Lubbock community, including the Texas Tech University Therapeutic Riding Center, which offers equine-assisted therapy to those with special needs within Lubbock and the surrounding areas.
The TTRC sees about 50-60 riders a week with each rider needing up to three volunteers assisting them.
For rising-junior Sarah Redding, the opportunity to work with horses as well as interact with the riders is a dream come true.
"I love to be around horses, and I love being able to serve people, so this is like my dream community service opportunity," Redding said. "My favorite part is being able to interact with the kids during the lessons and being able to assist them in a way that will keep them comfortable and relaxed during their lesson."
The girls may perform one of several jobs, depending on what is needed that day. Some days they prepare the horses by grooming them and dressing them for lessons. Others, they assist the actual therapeutic lesson as side walkers, walking alongside the rider providing safety and support while also interacting with them.
"The most rewarding thing about it is seeing that big smile on a kid's face," rising-junior Kyndal Cowan said. "Knowing that I could make a kid's day better just by giving them some of my time is the most amazing feeling."
The opportunity student-athletes possess to make a difference is what Texas Tech assistant coach Brandy Huskey, who leads the program's community service initiatives, believes it is all about.
"Many people don't get to experience life as a student-athlete, so it is nice for them to reach out to people in our community to spend time getting to know them and see what their experiences are," Huskey said. "I also hope they acquire some experiences with learning why the TTU Therapeutic Riding Center is beneficial for kids with disabilities, and I hope they build relationships with these kids to make their day just a little more special."
Redding has certainly taken advantage of the opportunity.
"My most memorable moment I've had during the spring was celebrating one of the rider's birthdays. We finished his lesson and then got to hang out with him afterwards and eat ice cream with him. It was a blast!"
Kelcee Lewis, Volunteer Coordinator at the TTRC, believes the center has some of the best volunteers around.
"Volunteers are vital to the success of our center and without them, there is absolutely no way we could provide the amount of therapy services we do," Lewis said. "We are thrilled to have the Texas Tech volleyball team as part of our TTRC family. Our riders love having Texas Tech athletes and students involved in their lessons."
Huskey hopes giving back to TTRC and others in the Lubbock community helps the team grow as communicators and as individuals.
"These experiences help them by making them more aware of their surroundings and how people look at them as student-athletes. It helps them improve their interpersonal skills and communication, while also making them more aware of what others experience in their personal lives."
Cowan feels that the team has taken ownership of these endeavors and hopes to set an example for all to follow.
"Volunteering has matured me and made me realize that life is not about what you get out of it, but it's about what you give to others," Cowan said. "If everyone would get out of their comfort zones and serve their communities more often, I believe that this world would be a much better place."
