Sports are either played individually or as a team. You have yourself to credit for the final result, or teammates to credit for the final result. 

In contrast, there are 11 players on the field at once in soccer, so the ball would have had to get past 10 teammates before even reaching the goalkeeper. In baseball or softball you need to just cover your area of the field defensively, rather than cover the entire diamond. 

As a pair, you have yourself and one other person that makes decisions that contribute to a win or a loss. "V has taught me a lot about trust, and that's the value for me is being able to trust our partner," shared Michelle Shaffer, graduate student beach volleyball player on playing alongside her partner Vilhelmiina Prihti.

As trust has been established for a while, there can also be a level of security that a pair feels. Having confidence in yourself and only one other person can lead to victories. Shaffer and Prihti have both earned All-WCC First Team honors separately, and are working to do it together this spring.

There is trust and there is security that is established in these pairs, but there is also a level of comfort. When both individuals in a partnership feel extremely comfortable in their teammate's abilities, there is a feeling of ease that is felt amongst the both individuals. And the concept of the sport being "fun", can still be true, even at such a high level. 

"I think it's just more fun having someone else on the court, you get to have those moments where you look over and smile and relax for a bit," said Arthur Pantino, junior, men's tennis player.

Although many things that come with working in a pair can be positive, there is also that lack of control that one may feel, as they only have themselves and one other person to look to credit for the final result. Isabella Tcherkes-Zade, graduate student women's tennis player, partner to Anna Paradisi, says, "I think I have more fun in doubles, but also I like the idea, you know, in singles it's all in my control." 

In both men's and women's tennis they get to experience both. Many college players play doubles and singles, so having the best of both worlds helps contribute to a positive mentality about both types of play. 

Shaffer has experience playing both indoor volleyball and beach volleyball. The significant contrast between the two, is that indoor volleyball requires six players on the court at one time. While beach volleyball is strictly played in pairs, meaning two players at a time. "I personally really love playing with a smaller team. You can get to know the other person deeper," said Shaffer, as she reflected and contrasted her experience playing both indoor and beach. 

Senior men's tennis player Sebastian Nothhaft, partner to Pantino, spoke on what makes a good partnership for him. What stood out was both individuals' natural compatibility in terms of personality and game style.

This conversation about what it means to play in a pair, goes to show that in life, having a strong individual by your side can be the difference in one's ability to succeed.