One of the newest and most advantageous additions to OHS this 2024-25 school year is the uprising boys beach volleyball team. New with hope, determination, and talented players on the rise, the program is set to step out on the right foot for their first official season.
With volleyball being a hot topic and an accomplished name here at OHS, boys beach volleyball is set out to uphold their gold medal reputation and confidently jump onto the sand.
“We’ve been known for being a really good volleyball team, so I think we have a high standard for ourselves, and so still setting that high expectation,” said Carter King, senior.
While earning the reputation of volleyball success, it took a multitude of pressure, talent, and external influences for the program to officially establish itself at OHS.
“It happened fast; the Mesa district and the Chandler district had started it two years ago, and the AIA put out a survey saying ‘Does any other high schools want to start?’ and Dr. Miller, and Mr. Rypkema are always wanting to try and do new things, and be the first, so they said yes,” said Troy Dueling, boys beach and indoor volleyball head coach.
Even students at the school were awaiting the arrival of the sport, their years of experience on the sand competitively, lending them an advantage this upcoming year.
“It was exciting because we’ve been trying to get this for the past four years, but it’s kind of a smaller sport right now, and not a lot of teams are participating,” said Noah Kaoni, senior.
Although the program is just beginning, the talent of students at the school never ceases, grounding the sport as athletes take their first leap into the season.
“I think we have a good foundation of players here on the indoor side, so I think having a lot of guys who play a lot of volleyball, and they play a lot of sand as well throughout the year, is going to help; so I think foundationally we have a really good start,” Dueling said.
The excess of talented players also alludes to a balance of time management and additional responsibilities delegated to students as yet another sport gets added to the OHS agenda.
“I’m pretty busy at the moment, with club volleyball and playing golf, so it’s going to be a lot on my schedule, but I think I can pull it off,” Kaoni said.
Although the senior’s at OHS will only be granted a single season of the program, it allows for an exciting time of playing hard and setting up a successful culture within the team.
“You definitely have to step up and take a leadership role [as a senior], compared to last year with volleyball I was a backup, behind all the seniors, so you kind of have to step up and show the guys ‘this is the way to do it’, and have a good team chemistry,” Kaoni said.
Falling perfectly hand and hand with indoor volleyball, the addition of the sport not only allows year round practice for the players, but comparatively allows a variation of play that challenges the athletes to the best of their ability.
“I honestly think it’ll be way more loose and way more fun; it’s only you and one other person compared to five other people on the court,” King said.
Although the season has barely just begun, the beach volleyball name already rings strong at OHS, and this year is bound to set up success for future years of the program.
“We start out having fun, a lot of energy, making sure everyone is comfortable with each other, and making sure everyone is able to play with whoever they want. And just [trying to] set up a good fun season to come, so more people will want to join next year,” King said.
