How High's the Net? Too High!

Once the basketball season ends and the rims get hoisted up, it’s time for boys volleyball season. Thanks to the team—there’s never a dull moment in the gym. Whether it’s ducking because a ball is flying at your head, or running sprints as punishment, there’s always something happening. Although their record was, well, zero wins last year, this year they’re doing infinitely better. With a 6 wins to 5 losses so far, they’ve already beat their previous season’s stats. As a team manager, I get to see this team work individually to better their skills, then come together at the very end to win.

Even though the season has just begun, the teamhas already had 11 games and 2 tournaments. The team spends all their free time practicing together Monday through Thursday every week.

Their coach, Carlin Armando, has recently joined the school, and he has paved pioneered the way for the boys team. Many schools do not offer boys volleyball as a sport, and PHS’s program is relatively new. Since boys volleyball isn’t a “traditional” sport, few middle schools offer it, meaning many boys are starting the sport for the first time when they reach high school. Anton Navarro, a freshman on the JV team, says he likes “the people and has a sense of community; it’s fun to be around fun and cool people, and learning new things from them.” This is Anton’s first year playing the sport, and the program has allowed him to connect with upperclassmen.

However, someone with more experience– Raygan Glick– has a different perspective on it. Rayganstarted playing volleyball in 7th grade at Sierra Madre Middle School. He is currently captain of the varsity team, and is in his third year on the team. Though his freshman year was impacted due to COVID, he attended the conditioning practices the coach had for preseason. Through all of this experience, he has earned his spot as starting setter for the team feels that “playing with my friends is a great part of the sport, the relationships we build as a team all start at practice.” It’s well known that in the sport of volleyball, relationships make or break the team. That’s why this team has improved from last season: they’ve all become better friends.

The season isn’t over yet, check your bulldog-bulletin for information on where and when the next boys volleyball game will be.