Winning the game of life
- Updated: September 9, 2014
Following the birth of her daughter, Tiffany Springer returns to support, success on the Saks volleyball team
The Saks volleyball team is drawn to Wildcats senior libero Tiffany Springer and her daughter Tiana Rae.
Tiffany Springer (center) is poised to make a play on a ball during practice last week.
“I wanted to be somebody who (was known to have) faced reality a lot sooner than anyone expects and still was successful.”
–Saks libero Tiffany Springer
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Team unity is a big thing within the Saks volleyball team. The Wildcats even have a big sign that reads big “TEAM”, little “me” to drive the point home.
While a lot of teams use the slogan, in this case it’s more than just words. The Wildcats really do have a little “me” within their ranks these days the players say is making their “team” a lot bigger.
Senior libero Tiffany Springer returned to the squad this season after delivering a baby June 16 and her daughter, Tiana Rae, has been a rallying point for all the players.
“We love her,” junior setter Jaelyn Wilson said. “She’s so sweet. She’s so cute. She’s here all the time with Tiffany and everyone just loves to hold her and play with her. It’s kind of bringing us a lot closer.”
“She’s like another member of the team,” added junior Baylee Snider.
“(She) makes us happier,” junior Taylor Teague said. “It boosts me up a lot, makes my soul feel a whole lot more … happy.”
It was an emotional meeting when Springer told Wildcats coach Randy Law she was expecting. She had a Player of the Year season as a junior and everyone around the program was expecting a big season from her as a senior.
When she finally summoned the courage to approach him, Law said he still would like to have her play.
“Things in life happen,” Law said. “It’s not a perfect world that we live in and you’ve got to learn to accept things that don’t necessarily go the way you want them to go, but you’ve got to accept them and do the best you can do.”
But if Springer were going to return, conditions had to be met. Most notably, she had to make up for the time she missed in summer workouts following the baby’s birth.
She had to run 57 miles – three for each of the 19 workouts she missed. It was a lonely assignment — running 60 laps around the gym 19 straight days after practice, basically the equivalent of 19 consecutive Woodstock 5Ks — but on that final day, in another show of team unity, her teammates ran alongside her to bring it home.
“When I first decided I wanted to come back I was kind of nervous because I didn’t want people to think I was going to come back and have a starting spot right off the bat; I wanted to earn my position,” Springer said. “I made him treat me like anybody else and actually wanted them to be stricter.
“I wanted to be somebody who faced reality a lot sooner than anyone expects and still was successful.”
Nothing says reality louder than being a teen mom. Springer said “it’s still really weird I’m a mom now,” but she’s acceptant of all that comes with her new responsibilities.
She didn’t actually get confirmation of her pregnancy until Jan. 1, meaning she played last volleyball season carrying Tiana Rae. She reached out to other teen athlete-moms for advice. The most poignant: Always look forward and don’t let the doubters bring you down.
Since she returned to the floor, no one has noticed any drop in her game.
“She’s doing a great job, hasn’t missed a beat,” Law said. “She’s a great athlete.”
Indeed. As a freshman, Springer was the starting shortstop on the Wildcats’ state championship softball team. She also is the point guard on the girls’ basketball team. This is her third year starting with the volleyball team.
She plans to play softball this spring, but is still deciding whether to play basketball in the winter. She didn’t play either sport after learning she was due, but remained a part of both teams during their seasons.
Even with the important addition to her young life, all of Springer’s plans remain intact – and that includes college. She has received recruiting interest from Jacksonville State and Gadsden State and anticipates more once she gathers her senior highlights.
“I’ve had the same goals since eighth grade and they still remain the same, but they’re going to be more of a challenge than they were before because I have responsibilities,” she said. “As I keep going and try to achieve my goals I still have to remember I have somebody looking up to me now. I have to go hard for the person you’re responsible for.”
Al Muskewitz is Content Editor/Senior Writer of East Alabama Sports Today. To comment on this story or pitch a story idea, contact him at musky@wrightmediacorp.com and follow him on Twitter @easportstoday1.
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