First Colonial HS boys volleyball team looking for long playoff run
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The First Colonial High School boys varsity volleyball team entered the playoffs in November. Coach Mehl and captains Ethan Gilbert and Jake Rivers contribute their success to their team communication, collaboration, and some exciting new traditions brought on by the new coaching staff. The team finished the regular season ranked second in the beach region with a win-loss ratio of 6-3. In early November, their journey to the finals began with a match win against Bayside High School. Their next challenge was Kempsville High School in the semifinals.
The senior players are motivated by their last chance to take home a state title before they graduate. They are proud of their achievements this season and have inspired all of the younger teammates to help lead the team to states. The seniors, especially the captains, have taken an active role in the coaching of the younger players and helping them become a part of the team鈥檚 constant movement on the court.
Volleyball is a sport that involves fluid motion that must be timed perfectly to work well. It requires extensive preparation for every possible circumstance to know who covers what parts of the court, how to know which hitter will get the ball, and how to set up different blocking patterns to defend against any opponent. Captains Gilbert and Rivers play a major role in making sure everyone knows where they need to be, and they encourage their teammates. For example, due to the fast-paced nature of the game, moving forward is impeded when someone focuses on a previous mistake. The team quickly huddles after each point to make sure everyone keeps up the energy and stays focused on the game to come instead of dwelling on any past errors.
A new tradition the team has adopted includes a team celebration at Moe鈥檚 or Chick-Fil-A after games, regardless of outcome. The boys find it important to celebrate their hard work regardless of a win or loss. It is also a great way to make sure everyone gets to be amongst their team after a tough game.
To commend the player for their ongoing hard work, the team has also instituted a way to honor someone who stands out. The MVP flag, which they call the W Flag, is awarded to whomever the previous recipient thinks was the most inspirational force on the team for that game. Gilbert noted that the flag isn鈥檛 just for players on the court. 鈥淭he W flag is for whomever drove us to the win, especially if they cheered us on the whole way,鈥� he said. This flag is slowly becoming covered in ink, with every new recipient signing their name and jersey number. The players hope it will become a legacy of pride passed down from team to team.
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