The SHS Boys’ Volleyball team is as much of a sport as it is a brotherhood. The team is fueled by trust, camaraderie, and friendship (and BDubs), and currently sits at third in the GMC rankings, looking to make a bid for the upcoming championship. This team is no stranger to taking home the coveted GMC trophy, having won it six times since 2002. To gain more insight into the team as their season nears its end, The Leaf sat down with three volleyball seniors- Noah Broerman, Siesho Miller, and Carter Colebrook.
Q: What inspired you to start playing volleyball, and how did you get into the sport?
Broerman: “I didn’t play a sport freshman year, and I kind of grew up around volleyball because my sister played. So I, since I wasn’t playing anything, I was like, let me give this a try. I started playing club before I started playing school, just to try it out, see if I liked it or not. And then I did really like it, ended up playing for the school team, and then liked it even more, made some really good friends and connections with people that I wouldn’t have ever met if I didn’t play volleyball and through those friendships created through volleyball that inspired my love for the game.”
Miller: “I grew up around it, same as Noah. My sister played it a lot, so I played with her. And then freshman year, during gym class, me and my friend Itai played volleyball there, and our gym teacher said that we were pretty good and that we should try out. So then we did, and then I ended up really, really liking it.”
Colebrook: “Well, I originally played lacrosse freshman and sophomore year, but then during that time, I also played club volleyball, and then the friends aspect of [volleyball] really made me grow towards volleyball.”
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a member of the sycamore volleyball team?
Broerman: “The camaraderie of it. Like, a flat and simple answer, I guess is my favorite part. But I just love that, since it’s such a team based sport, when something good happens on the court, it’s like you got everybody to thank, and if something bad happens, you guys all fall down together. So it’s really just like you’re all in it as a team. And I really like that, because you really ride some highs together.”
Miller: “I would say the same thing. I feel like, on the team, you can find, a pretty wide variety of people on it, but because of how close everyone is with each other, even if you’re part of different friend groups during school, you can still, connect with them through volleyball”
Broerman: “We’ve really got, like, a brotherhood this year that’s unmatched, we can all just joke around with each other. It’s great.”
Q: What’s the team’s chemistry like this year?
Broerman: “It’s very “brotherhood,” you know, we’re all good friends, and even outside of volleyball, we’ve been through stuff together. There’s been some drama, but honestly, we were all able to set that aside and just play together really fluently.”
Miller: “I would agree with him. Even outside of school season during the summer, we all kind of knew who all was playing the next year, so we all would just set up a grass net or play sand or something over the summer.”
Q: How has being part of the volleyball team shaped your character or leadership skills?
Broerman: “I think it’s honestly helped me become a lot more outgoing. I started playing sophomore year, and I really had lacking social skills and I was just nervous and scared to talk to people. Through volleyball, I met my friends now, and they have shaped me as a person.”
Colebrook: I feel like I’ve gained a lot more confidence with myself, because on the volleyball courts, you gotta find where you fit in and how you can help the team. So when you can find out how to do that on a volleyball court, you apply that to other aspects too.”
Miller: I think building confidence is a big part, but also learning to put your trust and dependency on other people. In volleyball, a big saying is “learning how to better the ball.” You shouldn’t blame the person who touched the ball before you, you need to put it on yourself to make it better for the next person.”
Q: What’s one thing about boys’ volleyball you wish more people understood or appreciated?
Broerman: “I wish people knew how fun it was. So many people come to the games for the first time and they’re like “wow, that was a great time, there was so much energy.” It’s really fast paced, and the points go by quickly. I also wish we had more of a student section. I say this every year, and honestly, we’re starting to build one. Volleyball is gaining a lot of popularity, but I don’t think people understand how much energy games have. They’re electric.”
Colebrook: “My first time at a volleyball tournament really showed me how much people play, and then, how much time people put in, and then, it paying off. And you can tell that based on the energy that’s felt.”
Miller: “I think a big part of boys volleyball is momentum on the court. So, when you’re in the lead, not even in points, but just in energy, you can really dominate a game. It’s not even that the games are hype because we force it, they generally just are in terms of natural energy.”
