On April 14, the varsity boys volleyball team started their season strong with a winning score of 2-1 in an away game against Lake Zurich. 

The boys volleyball season was cut short last year due to the outbreak of COVID; they were able to have a total of three practices before taking a year-long pause. But as of April 5 this year, a new season began with set priorities for a satisfactory year. 

Improvement is the key to a successful season. Winning conference and qualifying for state is a clear target for this year’s team, but enjoying and cherishing this season comes first in their book. As of now, head coach Dan Erlenbaugh is only looking to improve his team’s skills and appreciate the season he was given. 

“It would be great to win conference or do well in the playoffs but the biggest thing right now is just to make sure that the guys are having fun, learning the game, and getting better every single day and every single match,” stated Erlenbaugh.

Senior middle hitter Jacob Spicer recommends that with hard efforts and a routine the team puts itself in a good position moving forward. He states, “as long as we keep working hard and keep doing what we’re doing… eventually when we just get that groove, I think that we can do a lot.”

With this unpredictable year, everything is expected to take place. That is why team members are taking this time to focus on bettering their skills and buckling down to what the team needs. 

“We have a lot of good players, but it’s also going to be a little unknown because we don’t know anything about any of the other teams we’re playing against because of COVID. And we can’t really watch other teams play, so all we really know is about ourselves. That’s all we can focus on right now,” stated junior outside hitter Jonathan Piggott.

Even with unknown risks, the team continues to show their understanding of any changes that may occur. Team members have also continued to stay safe to strive for a full season. Erlenbaugh proudly explained, “Sometimes practices will change, they’re okay with that. They’ve been great with communication, understanding that at any moment’s notice we might lose a match, we might lose a couple of matches. So, they’ve done a really good job of doing everything they can to stay healthy and do what we can in order for us to keep playing.”

Even with their time off the team’s spirit was never lost. The boys began forming relationships during the fall when they were given the fall contact days. “We were able to get together in the fall for the fall contact days, and then we were able to do a little bit more before the season started. So the guys started to get some bonds together because it is a different group,” Erlenbaugh explained. 

With many determined players, the team faces minor struggles to overcome. Due to the current pandemic, many sports are requiring athletes to wear masks while playing, as well as adhering to other safety protocols such as spectator rules. These protocols were a new change for this year’s team. While it started off as a difficulty, it quickly changed to normalcy. Piggott explained, “Wearing a mask during play can be a little difficult at times, but the more I feel that I play with the mask, the easier it gets. I think it’s going to take time to get used to everything.”

Another change the team faced this year was the small number of fans in the stands. However, this did not discourage the team’s performance but motivate them to bring their all. 

“I know not having as many fans does affect them but they’re trying to bring as much energy as they can on the court. Because in the end, it’s what matters of the team not who’s in the stands,” said Erlenbaugh.   

These turnarounds have helped players value what they were given. “I think just having the fans there is just kind of a luxury,” stated Spicer.

No matter the outcome of this season, players were joyful to be able to play again with their teammates and seniors continue to see a good future for their volleyball team. Spicer enthusiastically states, “I know coach Erlenbaugh really wants us to be on the wall in the fieldhouse. And I’m really hoping to get there, but if not, we definitely have a good future ahead of us because we have a lot of good kids who are playing.”