CHS boys volleyball learning on the move
Sandwiched between a pair of Tri-County Athletic League tilts, the Christopher High boys volleyball team took the court for a scrimmage against Sobrato High School on Wednesday night.
Though three matches back-to-back-to-back may seem like an overload, for the Cougars, every minute spent in game-mode is laying the foundation for the first-year varsity program’s progression through the season.
“We are trying to get these guys as many touches as possible,” said head coach Karie Gonzalez, who ran the Cougars junior varsity squad last season. “The more touches, the better off we will be.”
A mere two contests into the spring season, the Cougars, who play in the re-organized TCAL Valley Division (The league has 12 teams split into two divisions. The other is the Coastal Division.), have shown they are taking to account the work ethic both Gonzalez and associate head coach Jason Medenceles have drilled into them from Day 1.
“I wanted to test them mentally and physically at a high level right away,” Medenceles said. “I wanted to introduce that high level early on so that they could catch on really quick.”
Whether it’s in practice a scrimmage or a key league contest, Medenceles wants the Cougars focused anytime they are between the lines.
Medenceles graduated from Gilroy High in 2003, earning a share of the league’s Most Valuable Player award as the Mustangs posted a 20-win season. Medenceles also played at both San Jose State and San Diego State for the universities club teams.
He said he jumped at the opportunity to help establish the fresh program at CHS.
“I always tell these kids that they have potential but without hard work, that potential goes to waste,” Medenceles said.
“I’m lucky to be chosen as one of the coaches and I have the opportunity to develop the program. I want to expose these kids to a high level in every category.”
Though the Cougars fell shy in both outings – 25-22, 25-17, 25-20 to Palma and 25-22, 25-21, 25-21 to Alisal – the scores alone indicate the Cougars are inching closer to where they want to be.
“We execute really well, but we aren’t there just yet,” Gonzalez said, pointing to some of the varsity-level experience CHS still lacks.
“We are still young. They are meshing better, they are learning each other’s plays, they are learning each other’s weaknesses and they are filling in where we need them to.”
The Cougars return six players from last season’s junior varsity squad and so far this have received heavy offensive production from returning sophomore middle Justin Laveroni, whose three kills in the league opener against Palma led the team. Laveroni, at 6-foot -1 smacked down eight kills in the Alisal outing, sharing the lead with 6-foot-4 freshman Conner McConkie.
The two lanky middles are key pieces to the offense Medenceles is looking to run as the team continues to improve – a point-scoring machine that develops out of its middles.
“The learning curve for these kids is tremendous and we are making a progression in the right direction,” Medenceles added.
