“March Madness” is a term not only applicable to the NCAA this month. It can actually be used to describe another sport, high school volleyball.
UC High’s Boys Varsity Volleyball Team is starting up their spring season for this year, and it is bound to be tough but rewarding. The team practices together every day either after school or during sixth period in the school gym.
“We lost nine seniors last year so most of this team is stepping up and playing together for the first time,” said Coach Brooke Choi, who is now in her third year of coaching the team. “I really can’t say enough about the potential of the team as a whole. A few of the starters will be sophomores and juniors so this young team will work and grow together for a couple of years.”
Although the loss of so many players was detrimental to the team, practices were able to resume earlier than last year. Winter teams at UC High played well into the 2011 spring season due to their advancements in CIF competitions, so a lot of time was lost for Boys Volleyball. “I know we will benefit from the additional time and practice,” said Choi.
According to Choi, some of the leading players on this year’s team include three people in particular. She first described Junior Kolter Knapp as an outstanding hitter and server. She then said she had tremendous confidence in Sophomore Tyler Hedley and that Junior Colin Mitchell had improved a great deal from last year.
Mitchell, currently in his second season with the Varsity Team, said his favorite thing about volleyball is hitting. “When the ball goes down, it’s like getting a dunk in basketball,” he remarked.
Though hitting and blocking are preferred moves among those on the team, practices are spent with more time focused on other skills, such as serving, serve receiving and defense. In volleyball, each player on the court has to be strong in both offense and defense, because they adjust their positions based on what is happening in the play.
Cathedral Catholic High School is one the major rivals of UC High when it comes to sports, and Boys Varsity Volleyball is no exception. “Western League is really tough as many athletes in our league play year around in club programs, but the toughest is always Cathedral,” said Choi. “I hope everyone can get out and watch a match or two and cheer them on.”