Brooklyn Zevenbergen is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Notre Dame Prep High School for AZPreps365.com.

SCOTTSDALE — For Notre Dame Prep varsity girls volleyball, the final bell doesn’t signal the end of the school day, it just marks the halfway point. After hours of classes, they swap their backpacks for kneepads and head straight to the gym.

Between early mornings, long practices, late-night homework and both academic and spiritual expectations, the girls must balance a lot more than just their time on the court.

Notre Dame Prep’s student-athletes balance a demanding mix of high-level academics, competitive athletics and religious commitments. 

The private Catholic school’s emphasis on academic excellence and faith-based learning creates an environment where time management becomes as crucial a skill as passing or setting. 

“It’s just motivation,” senior outside hitter Madi Dresser said. “If you want to get it done, you’ll get it done. And if you don’t, you pay for it the next day.”

Dresser’s mindset is likely the same for many high school athletes, but at Notre Dame Prep, the expectations are higher. To maintain eligibility, players must meet certain academic standards while still competing at a high level. When games cut into the evening, athletes have to work to keep up.

Sophomore right side hitter Vanessa Gridley, who also plays club volleyball at Arizona Sky Volleyball Academy, knows this feeling all too well. 

“I feel burned out a lot,” Gridley said. “But if you learn time management and how to prioritize, you can do schoolwork while another game is happening. It still gets stressful, but you figure it out.” 

For many of the team’s athletes, the stress doubles during club volleyball season, which often overlaps with school commitments. Club tournaments mean traveling on weekends, leaving little time for rest and recovery. 

To help balance the workload, the school offers support systems. Senior libero Kenzie Schwab, who also plays for Arizona Storm Elite, said the Notre Dame Prep teachers understand the demands athletes are facing.

“Our teachers offer tutoring sessions before and after school, and then we have a period that’s called WIN, which is a study hall if we need to make up a test,” Schwab said.

Faith also plays a big role in keeping the players grounded. Before and after every match, the team prays together, a small thing that connects them together. 

“It just feels like we can rely on God when we’re stressed,” Schwab said. “It gives us something we’re all connected to.”

Even with late nights and long weeks, the Saints players say the struggle is worth it. They give credit to their supportive coaches and understanding teachers for helping them when their schedules get overwhelming. 

“Our coaches get it,” Gridley said. “If you need less practice time to finish homework, they’ll let that happen. They know school comes first.”

For Dresser, that’s the main lesson she hopes younger and upcoming student-athletes remember.

“Motivation,” she said. “If you want to balance both school and sports, you can. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.”