Pauline Martin was accustomed to being the only left-handed player in her surroundings. It was simply part of who she was, but over time she came to believe it could work in her favour on the court.
“I think I first realised it was a big advantage when I was younger and I realised that I was kind of the only one in my surroundings,” Martin said. “I think the first time I came across another left-handed person was when I was 16 or 17 years old. So I figured it might give me an extra layer of skill somehow, something special that opponents don’t know.”
Being left-handed may have given Martin something different to work with, but she does not see it as a shortcut to success
Like any player competing at the highest level, she continues to identify areas of her game that can improve. Learning how to vary her attacks and use opposing blocks more effectively are among the skills she is currently working to refine.
“The new skills I’m learning right now as a left-handed opposite are mostly learning how to tip because most top opposites in the world, like Paola Egonu and Bella Haak, are tipping 30 per cent of the time,” the 23-year-old Belgian said.
“I think it’s a really important skill to master. Then there is learning how to play with the block more and using the length because, when playing Serbia, that’s something I struggle with personally, going high off the hands against such a big block. So definitely that is something I need to work on.”
While Martin remains focused on improving, she has already produced some memorable performances on the international stage.
One of them came recently, when she scored 40 points against Thailand in the Volleyball Nations League. The achievement earned recognition from across the volleyball community, but Martin is quick to share the credit.
“Scoring 40 points against Thailand was obviously special,” she said. “It’s great to also be part of that big volleyball world and be recognised by my idols and other peers. But I’m really glad that my team helped me do it and gave me the opportunity and confidence to score that many points and help the team as much as I could.”
This World Volleyball Day on July 7, celebrate the qualities that make your game your own. Share the experiences that helped you discover your strengths in volleyball using #WorldVolleyballDay.
