Two years ago, now senior Rey Martinez, could be found coaching his little sister, now freshman Angie Martinez, at Perry Township Volleyball Incorporation. During games, he observed her, offered his support and guided her whenever she needed it.
Today, they can be found on the court together wherever they go.
“Me and her are kind of like a pair,” Rey said. “She’s the youngest girl, and I’m the youngest boy. (So) We’re really close in volleyball and out of volleyball.”
Growing up in a household with eight children, youngest siblings, Rey and Angie, have always been close. Moreover, growing up playing volleyball together has brought them closer than ever.
Now, together, in the same school, they are getting the chance to play volleyball inside and outside of school. Even when playing two different positions, they still find ways to help and support each other when they can.
“I would say I help her more than she helps me, because again she asks me for a lot of tips and stuff,” Rey said. “We do play different positions, she’s a setter, (and) I’m a libero.”
Prior to Rey starting volleyball during his freshman year and Angie starting a year later in her 7th grade year, they already had a strong connection. But with them both playing volleyball, it brought them even closer.
The siblings’ love and passion for volleyball not only strengthens their bond on the court but also as siblings.
When they are not on the court, they are at home in each other’s company or passing the ball around in the backyard.
With Angie now being a freshman at SHS, she has had to adjust to a new volleyball team and school setting. With the assistance of her brother, she has been able to ease into this change.
“It’s different than middle school,” Angie said. “But I’ve been adjusting to it, just trying to focus and pay attention.”
As well as helping her adjust to the school setting, Rey is also one of the girls’ volleyball managers for this year.
Angie is not the only one excited to have Rey be a manager this year. Girls’ volleyball head coach Chelsea Hoffman and boys’ volleyball head coach and girls’ head junior varsity coach Ethan Coffman are both looking forward to seeing how he impacts the team.
“He’s kind of like big brother hover, but in the best way,” Coffman said. “They don’t fight, you don’t see a lot of that. But he really seems to look out for her and she, in a good way, seems to appreciate him around.”
In addition to supporting each other, they have goals for each other and themselves for this season.
By sectionals, Rey hopes Angie will be dressing varsity and by next year, be on varsity full-time. For himself, he hopes to improve as a teammate and be a better leader as a captain of the boys’ volleyball team.
Angie hopes that this year she can improve mentally, physically and overall become a better player and teammate. For her brother, she hopes he has the opportunity to go to college for volleyball.
Even though both siblings play different positions and are three years apart, their love for each other and volleyball creates a strong, unbreakable bond between the two, which brings them closer every day.
