After weeks of intense practices, the Boys’ Volleyball team celebrated a well-deserved win in last night’s home game on March 18. UHS News reflects on the hard work that went into their success.
Winning doesn’t come easy; these players have put in hours of effort and dedication. The boys’ volleyball coach, Katie Kirby-Williams, discusses the team’s approach to challenges: “Having small goals for each other throughout the season is a good motivator because then you always have something manageable to focus on.” After accomplishing a goal, the team sets a new one, and this becomes what Kirby-Williams calls a “cycle of motivation.”
Last night’s victory over Kelseyville proves that this approach is working. Coach Kirby-Williams explains that, beyond this tactic, players need strong mentalities and a determination to improve. She says, “They’ve caught on really quickly, and I think they have grown a lot.”
This growth is something that Coach Katie admires in her players. When asked what she enjoys most about coaching, she answers with, “The ah-ha moments from the athletes when they’ve been working really hard at something for multiple practice periods, and they finally get it.”
These players gain experience and skills that will serve them inside and outside of their high school careers. Senior David Crister, who is in his third volleyball season, explains, “I want to play in college and use this [experience] as an opportunity to really develop my skills to be a college-level athlete.”
However, not everyone on the team has this level of experience yet. Given that a large portion of the players are freshmen, the team is still developing. Crister adds that because most of the team is inexperienced, one of the biggest challenges is “learning how to move on the court properly, where our positioning is, and all the fundamentals of the game.”
Despite these challenges, the progress they have made so far has stood out. Coach Kirby-Williams shares, “They’ve caught on super quickly. And I think that they’ve grown a lot in a really short amount of time, which is really cool.” The amount of improvement reflects the effort they are putting in as the season progresses.
These first-year athletes are not only learning how to play the game, but also how to collaborate within a team. Building a strong group mentality is key to staying positive throughout the highs and lows of a season. Freshman Country Peregrina appreciates how his teammates support each other: “My teammate Adrian motivates me through the season.”
Teamwork is crucial to their success. Because volleyball is such a fast-paced game, players need to be able to brush off mistakes quickly and get back into the game. Teammates help each other maintain a clear mindset and not get discouraged. Team captain Adrian Silva tries to boost morale during games: “I’ve been trying to teach them some cheers.”
Last night’s win was great motivation for the team. They are determined to succeed through the rest of the season. Crister closes with, “We want to win.”
Join us at the next home game on Tuesday, March 24, at 5 pm.
Audriena Ramos
Audriena Ramos is a junior at Ukiah High. She is from Alpine, Texa and moved to Ukiah five years ago. This is her first year taking journalism. She is the vice president of the UHS Women's Empowerment club, and outside of school, she enjoys doing ballet with Mendocino Ballet.
Gabby Ramos
Gabby Ramos is a freshman who recently joined the UHS News Team, where she hopes to expand her writing skills. She also plays for the UHS volleyball team. In her free time, she enjoys baking.