It didn't look that high from the ground.

But then the members of the Butler High School girls volleyball team got up there, 40 feet above the Earth.

When they reached that altitude, they went through 20 obstacles, from walking a tightrope to maneuvering over tires.

At the end, they flung themselves off a 40-foot-high platform, with only a harness and their teammates at the bottom preventing them from going splat.

"Most of them had to overcome a lot of fears," said Butler girls volleyball coach Meghan Lucas. "They had to trust each other."

The day spent going through the paces of the High Altitude Challenge at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington was something Lucas always had wanted to put her team through.

This year, through some fund raising by the Butler booster club and an outside grant, Lucas got her wish last Friday.

"After we did it, we had a debriefing and talked about how we could relate what we did with life and with volleyball," Lucas said. "As a coach, you're always looking for ways to bring your team closer together."

The trip couldn't have come at a better time for the players.

After a long week of two-a-day practices, Lucas informed them to be ready for a practice that would last from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She told them to pack a lunch and to be prepared for a long and grueling day. She said nothing about the trip.

The players groaned upon hearing about such long day and long practice.

"We were like, 'Oh my gosh!" Achesinski said. "'What are we going to do for that long?'"

When the players begrudgingly showed up for practice, a bus was hiding around the corner. When they were told where they were going, the players became excited.

"No volleyball," Achesinski said. "We were having two-a-day practices all week. When we found out, we were just happy to get away from volleyball for a day."

Ironically, the resort had a sand volleyball court.

"We said, 'No thanks,'' Achesinski said, laughing.

Instead, they went about navigating the course high above the ground. There was a part of the course that was nerve-wracking for every member of the team.

That's where the teamwork and dedication came in.

Players encouraged each other and told the others the best way to complete a particular task.

Lucas' experiment worked.

"Some of them were in tears, but they were able to overcome," Lucas said. "I think they all worked together a little bit better. I think they understand each other more. They saw each others' vulnerable side and they understood the importance of trust."

The players already have noticed the difference.

Senior Abby Herrit said the communication in practice has improved.

"We've definitely become a lot closer as a team," Herrit said. "We all communicate a lot better."

Butler is coming off an 8-6 season a year ago, but have designs on making a playoff push this season.

If anything, the team shouldn't be afraid of heights - or saying what they feel to each other.

"You have to have team communication on and off the court," Achesinski said. "We got to hang out and be with each other on a different level than just volleyball. We got to know each other on a more personal level."