Serving up excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Armed with a positive attitude and a killer spike, Travis Air Force Base will be well-represented by 2nd Lt. Katie Batchelder at the Armed Forces Beach Volleyball Championship scheduled April 10 through 15 at Mayport Naval Station, Fla.

The Armed Forces Sports Beach Volleyball program occurs annually for service members of different branches to play against each other in a highly competitive sports program. The Beach Volleyball Championship is scheduled to be preceded by a training camp at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Batchelder began playing volleyball in her freshman year of high school. Since then, she's been hooked.

"The fast pace of the game peaked my interest," Batchelder said. "It is a sport that requires team cohesion as well as individual talent and efforts. The game is about minimizing mistakes and I am very detail-oriented."

Her volleyball resume consists of four years at Pleasant Valley High School, Calif., three years at the United States Air Force Academy, a semester with the French cadets at Ecole de l'Air as part of the Academy's cadet-exchange program and indoor volleyball in 2011 as part of the All-Air Force women's volleyball team.

Due to a shoulder injury last year, Batchelder was only able to compete in indoor volleyball. She has been preparing for the new demands that beach volleyball will present, she said.

"I have been preparing both mentally and physically for the demands of the game," Batchelder said. "It is a totally different game that introduces the elements, so you're dealing with wind, fighting the sun in your eyes and trying to keep good balance in the sand."

Batchelder's doubles partner is slated to be Senior Airman Kristiana Scott, 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs broadcaster. The two public affairs Airmen had met once before on a deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan.

"When Lt. Batchelder and I partner for doubles, we'll be able to work off each other's strengths," Scott said. "She has the height that we'll need at the net, and I have strong skills as a defensive specialist. We'll be able to use that to play the court efficiently."

Scott and Batchelder both believe maintaining positivity is crucial for success in the sport.

"I think we both share a love of the game and a positive attitude, and that alone will take us a very long way," Scott said.

"I feel that I am a reliable player who can keep the mood positive regardless of the score," Batchelder said. "My expectations are simply that we will go out fighting the entire way. I don't accept half-hearted efforts from myself or from others on my team. I also expect to have fun."

According to Batchelder, the Beach Volleyball Championship represents more than a game in the sand. This kind of opportunity builds morale, improves relations between services and allows individuals to showcase their talents. Most of all it is rewarding and fun.