Senior Tim Callahan is most noted for his persistence and work ethic on the EMU men’s volleyball team, and his hard work is paying off.
On Sunday, Callahan had 12 kills against SUNY Poly, and followed that with 13 against Arcadia, marking just the third and fourth times this season where he notched double digit kills in a match. For the season, he has the best attack percentage among EMU’s outside hitters at .199, and is averaging 2.70 kills to go with 84 digs and 27 blocks.
For Callahan, his time with the men’s volleyball program has not always been so easy. While playing at EMU, Callahan has faced multiple challenges.
“Playing volleyball for these four years has been a complete roller coaster,” he said. “My first two years were very, very mediocre. Those years were also hard for me because I wasn’t on the court much.”
During his first year, Callahan found that volleyball helped him deal with the loss of his father, and during that year he was able to fall in love with EMU and become closer with his teammates. However, during his second year at Eastern Mennonite, he did not receive much court time and he became frustrated.
“I was always taught to honor my commitments,” he said, “so I plugged away.”
According to Callahan, last year’s season was difficult because the men’s coach left around Thanksgiving break. Both Callahan and the team were concerned about how their non-traditional season and practices would play out.
“There was a lot of uncertainty as to who was still going to be here and what the coaching/practices would look like,” he added. “Luckily, we found someone to come in and give a fresh outlook to the program. I think this fresh outlook is what every individual on our team needed in order to find the fire and learn how to play together.”
Even though Callahan is having one of his best seasons during his final year at EMU, it has not been an easy path to success, and he has found this one of his most mentally and physically challenging years.
“There are days I just want to walk out of practice because I have no idea why I’m doing so bad,” Callahan said. “We also have a way more involved schedule that has made me use my time more wisely. Ultimately, the journey is one that I wouldn’t pass up, even if I could’ve gone to various other places throughout college.”
Coach Danielle Lickey states that Callahan’s sense of humor and class make him a pillar of the team.
“He has a passion for the sport and works hard on and off the court to better himself and his teammates,” said Lickey. “He also goes out of his way to be there for his teammates and get to know who they are and how they tick.”
Having a new coach has also helped to improve Callahan’s game.
“I haven’t been coached this tightly since high school, and its benefit has started to show itself this season. Sometimes, it feels like she’s going to correct me on how to tie my shoes and how to walk,” Callahan joked about Lickey.
On the court, working with the new system has been a learning curve for Callahan.
“In the new system I do not get the ball as much as before, and even all the way back to my senior year of high school,” he explained. “In the first couple of games it was hard for me mentally to go a while during the game without touching the ball. But with more games comes more comfort and I’m getting used to it more and more every game. Although I’m not fully adjusted, this past weekend I didn’t have a problem.”
Coach Lickey added that Callahan’s hard work this season has benefited the team.
“On the court, he is part of our ‘clean-up crew’ in that we ask him to make good things happen when our offense isn’t going the way it should,” she said. “He has accepted this role and works really hard to maintain excellence, and he expects the same from his teammates.”
Other than to attend class and listen to the coaches, the best advice Callahan can give when reflecting on his experience at Eastern Mennonite University is to be open to meeting new people.
“You never know who will make a big impact on your life,” he said. “The biggest reason I came and stayed at EMU was because of the people here. Everyone is usually friendly and networking is important for your future.”
While Callahan is still trying to figure out what to do after graduation, he is confident that his experience playing for EMU has shaped his future.
“Volleyball has been and will always be a way for me to get away from what’s going on in my life,” Tim said. “It’s also been great to have a team support me in my rough times and be there for others in their time of need. Volleyball has kept me on track in life and will help me in my future.”
