Racquetball is an indoor sport where players take turns hitting a rubber ball towards a wall with a racquet, aiming to return the ball before it bounces twice. It can be played in singles or doubles.

Sophomore Jocelyn Bouska said, “People [players] show up and they play their matches, but then they also stay and support their teammates.”

Racquetball provides fast-paced rallies, where players quickly react to the ball darting across the room.

Junior and member of the Lincoln club racquetball team, Julia Armstrong, describes racquetball as fast-paced and exhilarating.
“Things are constantly changing, and you have to react really quickly,” said Armstrong. “But it also makes it really exciting and really thrilling to be on the court because you never really know how it’s going to happen.”

Junior Elodie Alifanz, a member of the racquetball team, says her favorite moments are when she hits a “kill shot.”
“I really like when I do the kill shot, [which is] where you hit the ball really low on the wall [so that no one] can hit it back,” said Alifanz. “[They happen] rarely, but when I do [it] I feel really happy about it.”

Sophomore Jocelyn Bouska, also a member of the racquetball team, appreciates the skill needed to play racquetball.
“I like the precision it takes because [racquetball] seems really easy, but it really takes a lot of time to actually learn the skills and get them down,” said Bouska.

The racquetball team practices at the Multnomah Athletic Club, where they meet twice a week for practice.
“[Being on the racquetball team] has been really fun. It’s not that much commitment because it’s only two times a week, so you still have time to do things like work or extracurriculars,” said Alifanz.

Players say the team’s strongest appeal is its tight-knit community.
“I think [the community] is really great because racquetball is a smaller sport, so everyone that does it [becomes] closer on the court,” said Bouska. “We bring snacks, and it’s a really fun time because you all get to be there and support each other.”

On top of the students contributing to the great atmosphere, the coaches also contribute to a healthy environment.
“The coaches are really supportive, and they always push us to do our best,” said Bouska. “But they still let us have fun during practice.”