Boys’ volleyball attacks the upcoming season
Oftentimes, the season of spring is symbolic of renewal. With the spring season of NPHS sports beginning, the return of warm weather also marks a new season for boys’ volleyball. Though their season will begin anew, the team’s established connection has resumed– a vital element to their gameplay. Boys’ volleyball’s first game on Feb. 21 and last league match scheduled for April 16 leaves the team with lots of room for competition, which they hope to conquer together.
Dan Paskevic, junior, enjoys the teamwork aspect of volleyball. Playing since his freshman year, he believes he has learned many valuable lessons. “You can’t be a solo player. You have to rely on your teammates to actually score a point,” Paskevic said. At practice and games, there are many aspects he enjoys. “[I like] spending time with [my] friends, learning how to do the basics and building on that,” Paskevic said.
A year into his experience with indoor volleyball, Trenton Brooks, junior, was drawn to the sport due to his past encounters with the game. “I played beach volleyball last year at the start [of the year] so I’m [thinking], ‘Oh, there’s indoor. I might as well try it,’” Brooks said. Brooks emphasizes the welcoming spirit of the sport and the connections it has let him build. “[The] community is really great in volleyball. Everyone [is] friends [and are] very tight, but anyone can still join,” Brooks said.
When leading his fellow teammates, Sebastian Sitarz, junior, is not afraid to take charge. “During my time on the team, I’ve learned to win under pressure and coach my other teammates,” Sitarz said. In his three years of playing volleyball, Sitarz has acquired skills he shares with other players. “I help my less experienced teammates learn volleyball by breaking ideas and technique into familiar tasks,” Sitarz said. “For example, the footwork for dunking and jumping to hit a volleyball are similar.”
Paskevic works to pass on his volleyball wisdom to the underclassmen on his team, noting the importance of keeping a positive mindset. “[I] keep telling them to not give up, give it their all and they’ll improve on their own,” Paskevic said. Throughout the highs and lows of high school volleyball, Paskevic strives to stay engaged and locked into the right headspace. “I tell myself that I’m able to do it. I just need to try my best. And if it doesn’t work out, I just know that I did do my best,” Paskevic said.
Since Brooks started playing volleyball, he has taken away important lessons in collaborating with others and strengthening his mindset. “[Volleyball] gave me a really good insight into teamwork and how to improve your [mentality] while playing a game because volleyball is really fast-paced,” Brooks said. “You’re gonna make a lot of mistakes, so you really have to have a good [mentality] to be able to play the game well.”
From the perspective of a seasoned athlete, Sitarz chose to continue playing volleyball because of its sentimental value to him. “I’ve tried many sports and volleyball is my favorite. Having an exciting sport where you can look forward to the practices and want to improve makes a huge difference in [enjoyment],” Sitarz said. Though Sitarz views volleyball positively, he also acknowledges the downsides of the sport. “After a tough game, win or lose, I look for what mistakes I made or what I can do better as well as my team’s performance and how we can do better,” Sitarz said.
While boys’ volleyball is over 10 games into their season, they still have a ways to go in competitions and tournaments. Though the mental load on the players can be strenuous, the players find support in each other and draw strength from teamwork and personal connections– a feat that cannot be achieved in all sports. “In soccer, you’re across the field and you might not get the ball as often, but in volleyball it’s equal all around,” Paskevic said.
