Eaglecrest boys volleyball is off to an incredible start this season with a record of 17-4 so far. It is obvious that the leadership and coaching of this program is pushing this team to new heights, and there is a lot of anticipation about the team ending up in the state championship game again this year. According to the players there is a different feel this season, as the team is connecting more and sharing more camaraderie that it has in previous years.
“We are more of a team and understand each other more [as players].”, said Ashton Bond (10).
We will see in the upcoming weeks if this new found change can give them a run at state.
With a new sense of teamwork, the players are seeing the results that they have been anticipating all preseason. Perhaps it is the amount of time they have spent playing together and the bond that has formed among them, or it could also be the higher level of intensity this year.
“I think we have just had more battle and more fight this year than we did last year and our team is more skilled all around.”, said Jackson Shaw.
The leadership has also played a big role this season with Dillan Ancheta (10) and Jackson Shaw (11) as the team captains.
“ We have been playing a lot of years together and especially with our setter Dillan and Jackson as our team captains I feel like we have been off to a stronger start,” said Izy Maru (12). Both captains play a very pivotal role on the court with their leadership skills, but also knowledge and abilities. This shows in their statistics and how they run and control the court during games.
The intensity of the team is also much more prioritized this year. Players and coaches are bringing new priorities to practice this year, and seeing the results pay off.
“In practice we have a lot of focus which really reflects in our games and focusing on certain skills and drills really helps us correlate that into games.”, said Maru.
It’s not just the players this season who are bringing a new-found sense of teamwork, the coaches have made a massive impact on the team and record this season. Head coach Chad Bond has had a very successful career at Eaglecrest and is looking to add a state championship to the list of success this year.
“Our coach will get mad at us if we don’t keep trying and if we don’t do our best even in practice so he always pushes us.”, said Ashton Bond. This pressure and intensity is bringing a new feel to the program and becoming more visible with the record so far.
The team is currently wrapping up their final league games and beginning to enter playoff season. They will be taking on Cherokee Trail on 04/27 at 12:30 and Mountain Vista on 04/30 at 6:30. Here is their plan for approaching this week’s games:
“I have to keep my team there and keep them calm and do the best I can physically.”, said Jackson Shaw when asked how he will impact his team in the upcoming league games.
When asked the same question, Ashton Bond said, “ I want to help my team by performing as best I can and to push them to also play as best as they can for every game.”,
With state approaching soon the team will need to start preparing the game plan for taking on the 18-1 Discovery Canyon. The team lost in the state championship to them last year but are ready for a rematch.
“I think it is going to be a difficult match when we play Discovery Canyon but the most important thing is to just be us and be Eaglecrest boys volleyball and focus on who we are.”, said Izy Maru when asked how he wants to approach them in the upcoming playoff season.
The boys are preparing for the long and difficult battle that it will take to get to the state championship again. They are prepared and ready to take on all that awaits them at state this year.
