All Quiet on the Volleyball Court
March 9, 2017
The boys volleyball team plays against Davini Science at Del Aire Park. Both varsity and jv won that day.
After a long and successful winter season and painful college application stress, the boys volleyball season has begun!
The boys played their first game against Da Vinci and sadly came up short of a victory. However, there is no need to worry about their loss, the season is in its early days and needs more time to mature. The boys volleyball team is trained by Coach Severns, so there is no need to worry.
This year the boys volleyball team is lead by Senior Abdulkarim A. and Junior Erick M. Both Karim and Erick have been members of the volleyball team since they were freshmen and are fully determined to help lead their team to glory. When Karim was asked how he feels to finally be the captain he said, “It doesn’t feel too different, mainly because I was captain last year.” Moving on, when he was asked what training regiment their coach, Mr. Severns, puts them through, Karim stated that “Severns makes us do a lot of practice games so that we understand real time situations that happen in games.” The overall concept of the training is excellent, the best way to learn something is to be placed right in the middle of it and have to absorb all possible information on the fly.
The time has come to go over the first game of the season for the boys volleyball team. As stated previously, the boys lost their first game. However, Abdulkarim A. stated that “the team had a problem starting strong in the beginning of the game, but as [they] kept playing, [they] began picking up momentum and finished strong.” Even though in the end they may have lost, it’s clear that these boys never gave up and went down fighting. Karim also added a pivotal point to his answer by stating that “the team right now has experience. This helps us avoid the little mistakes in practice. However, during a game, we get a little nervous. We need to work on this.” The boys have plenty of time to improve their game and once the season progresses even further, we’ll see them in full swing.
Overall the boys had a bitter-sweet opening to their season, but are still hopeful for future success. Best wishes to the boys volleyball team.
The boys volleyball team get ready for pep rally.
More Than Just a Team
The Boys Volleyball Team has concluded their 2016-2017 season after months of daily practices and hard-fought matches. This year, the team was considerably young due to the fact that several freshmen and sophomores joined the volleyball fraternity. However, all players put in their best efforts for the better of the team.
Before the season initiated, the team set goals for themselves like Mr. Severns states, “Our number one goal is always to make playoffs and have a winning season, unfortunately, we were a few points short from making it this year.” Even though the season consisted of challenges, many new players brought something to the game. According to Mr. Severns, several sophomore players such as Bryan T., Andres C., and more contributed the team’s overall season. In addition to them, Freshmen, such as Varsity setter, Jaylen L., “pleasantly surprised” Mr. Severns in that they stepped up to the plate when it came to pressure filled matches.
One can clearly see that the boys did not only compose a team but made up a brotherhood. Support on the court was continuously seen in more ways than one. Slaps on the back and high-fives were commonly spotted being shared on and off the court. However, something that was quite heartwarming to have heard was the cheers; the Aviator boys put their imagination to practice and created a cheer for the team. Each one containing a personal touch for a specific player. Just to name one, Captain Abdulkarim A. consistently heard his personal cheer, it goes, “That was so nice, it was creamy!”
The game of volleyball has essentially created a family with this group of talented boys.
In terms of gameplay, the Aviators were strong in many aspects of the game, but still persisted in improving their weak spots. They were smart when maneuvering along the net, making sure they did the most they could to prevent the ball from traveling onto their side of the court. Hustling around the court was, no question, a large part of their games as well. Being quick on their feet enabled them to save several balls that were either too long or too short. Even though at times defense was a little shaky, the Aviator boys would never give up and continue to put points on the scoreboard one play at a time. Each player brought special qualities to the game, starting from the pass to the hit.
Regardless, the difficult season did not impede Mr. Severns from summing up the season with the word “exciting.” Noticing the improvement in players and having them pour all their hard work on the court allowed for an exhilarating experience for both players and supporters.
Their familial ties along with their strategic play on the court made for an enjoyable and unforgettable season. I hope to be seeing this family of boys growing in the upcoming years.
HMSA Boys Volleyball vs. Hawthorne High
HMSA’s boys volleyball season has begun and consists of successes and challenges. However, the boys continuously use their success and setbacks to further improve their game.
Both junior varsity and varsity played against Hawthorne High on March 14 at Hawthorne High’s gym. The rivalry against both Hawthorne teams called for exciting games. The previous year, the Aviators had played the Hawthorne Cougars with great tenacity but couldn’t obtain a win. This year, the boys were ready to return and display their new skills.
Even though both JV and Varsity were not able to take home the victory, they demonstrated great skill and teamwork. JV was led by Team Captain Orlando G. who later stated, “The JV team has improved in communicating, serving, and passing. I’m really proud of the progress they have made so far.” The crowd sitting in the stands could clearly see the communication on the court, like Orlando stated, that led them to have smart plays on and off the net. After a rough first set, the boys were back on the court with a clear mind ready to confront the second set. The manner in which they focused on the second set benefited them as seen by the close final score of 22-25. Their consistent plays displayed how they fight until the end.
Varsity was up next and once again exhibited true sportsmanship. Not only was their skill on the forefront but also the support they have for each other when on the court. As for the game play, the Aviators were strong on the net when blocking and making kills like Team Captain Erick M. declared “The team did very well blocking. We were constantly pressuring the opponent and obtained many points off blocking. Although we came up short of victory, we fought hard to stay in the game and put pressure on Hawthorne High.” In addition, the Aviators’ quick feet allowed them to make successful plays after diving for short balls near the 10-foot line and after hustling back for a shanked ball. Varsity continues to improve their performance on the court game after game.
This was only a slight bump in the road. The Aviators’ sportsmanship and skill will grant them a memorable season. Wish you boys the best!