For Southmont volleyball hitter Layla Testerman, limitations don’t exist on the court — only practice, determination, and a love for the game. Testerman, who was born without a complete right arm, shows us how sixth-grade struggles turned into unstoppable strength.
Volleyball was love at first spike for Testerman.
“I started playing in sixth grade, and I couldn’t even get my serve over,” Testerman, who is now a sophomore, said. “I was not good, but I actually really liked it. It was a lot of fun hanging out with my friends, going to games — I always loved to watch volleyball. That’s pretty much where it started.”
In a sport with an emphasis on hitting with two hands, Testerman knew she would have to adapt her playing style. Yet despite the uniqueness of her condition, she found that the most important factor was leveraging one simple ingredient: practice.
“I just practice,” she said. “When I’m serving, I obviously serve with one arm, so I just practice getting my toss right, getting the right height to be able to hit it, and getting my arm back fast enough to hit it. With passing, I don’t really know how to describe it — I kind of just do it.
“Some things are definitely harder for me, but I don’t feel like I work harder. I do work hard, but I think everybody works hard.”
Testerman’s work ethic isn’t the only force behind her success — her mindset elevates her game even higher.
“Everybody makes mistakes, and nobody’s just paying attention to me or just watching me. It’s not going to be the end of the world if I make a mistake,” she said. “In volleyball, if there were no mistakes, there would be no points.”
Coaches Erin Barry and Bella McIntyre shared their praise for Testerman’s mentality.
“Layla has a great attitude on and off the court,” they said. “She is always helping other teammates when they are struggling or feeling down. She has great hustle and work ethic. If there is ever a drill that we need someone to volunteer to demonstrate or grab equipment for, she is always one of the first volunteers. [We] cannot stress enough how much of a hard-working athlete she truly is.”
As well as her leadership on and off the court, determination and growth are indispensable assets to Testerman’s success.
On her greatest achievement, she remarked: “Probably hitting. I’m 5’2, so I never thought I would be a hitter.”
Barry and McIntyre commended her serving ability as well, citing her performance at the Covington match last week as both a morale booster and a set-saver. Though JV lost overall, Testerman’s “aggressive” serving helped the team come back to redeem a set 25-21.
When it comes to spiking through barriers, Testerman is truly inspiring.
“If you want to do something, you shouldn’t let other people change your mind,” she said. “Make up your mind on what you want to do. Get opinions from your friends and family, but definitely don’t think you can’t ever do something. If you want to do something, you should try and do it. You shouldn’t say ‘I don’t think I’d be good at that’ — you should at least try.”
With a record of seven aces, 12 digs, and five kills so far this season (and a track season to look forward to in the spring), Testerman is not just setting the bar — she’s ready to smash it.
