The NDCL boys volleyball team is currently in its first season of existence, and since OHSAA-sanctioned boys volleyball is new, many of the NDCL players are also new to the sport.
Match photos click here.
The NDCL boys volleyball team is currently in its first season of existence, and since OHSAA-sanctioned boys volleyball is new, many of the NDCL players are also new to the sport.
However, at NDCL, although many of the players have not been training specifically for volleyball throughout high school, there is a wealth of athletic talent on the team. In fact, the team is captained by two football players and has seven seniors on its roster.
The Maple Leaf recently caught up with the team out at Mentor High School to discuss its season so far.
On March 25, NDCL traveled to Mentor. Although the Lions lost 3-0, all the games were close.
The Lions lost the first game, 25-19. They stayed close in the second game, but lost 25-20. Finally, they lost the third set, 28-26.
After the game, players talked about being a first-year program and developing a culture focused on having fun and focusing on the process of improvement.
“We played a tough game, we lost in three, but close game all around,” Declan Nosse said. “We lost some easy points, but were all good.”
Added Joey Valentino, “You know, we got to fix up the little things and make sure we don’t mess up, get some easy points, get the serves over, and maybe we’ll get them next time.”
Senior Medo Abumathkour discussed the importance of communicating to develop the cohesion necessary for success.
Abumathkour believes the team needs to continue focusing on improving communication by talking more often to each other while on the court.
“We do drills where we have to communicate,” Abumathkour said. “I think we just need to learn how to work as a team a little bit more.”
Valentino and Nosse discussed their roles as captain and senior leaders during NDCL’s inaugural boys volleyball year.
“We just try and build people up and bring people into the sport for next season,” Nosse said. “We’re all very new, we’re learning. We are playing good, we are trying our best here.”
“You know, there is going to be some struggles,” Valentino also acknowledged. “You just got to be ready for the next day and hope to pick it up next time.”
However, despite the lumps, both captains emphasized the fun that everyone is having playing volleyball.
“(We’re looking forward to) just having a fun time the rest of our last couple months of high school,” Nosse said. “We are playing because we want to have fun, and that’s all that matters.”
Added Abumathkour, “I am just here for fun; I’m having a fun time.”
Offensively, the NDCL boys volleyball team has been led in kills so far this season by Nosse (42), Valentino (31), Timmy Sargi (24), Jack Mulchin (18) and Tim Nieto (15).
Leading the Lions in serving aces and assists is freshman Brennan Kogovsek, who has 17 serving aces on the season. Also leading in serving aces are Nosse (10), Nieto (10), Sargi (8) and Valentino (8).
As the main setter for the Lions, Kogovsek leads the team with 74 assists.
NDCL boys volleyball returns to the court to take on Chardon on April 3 and Independence on April 5.
