Having just competed in their first West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) game of the season on March 12, the Saint Francis boys’ varsity volleyball team is preparing for another year of competition that will hopefully end in a Central Coast Section (CCS) final. However, unlike previous years, the team looks drastically different, which has forced both the players and coaches to rethink their plans and actions in order to be successful.
Due to a majority of their starting players graduating last year, the coaches have had to be proactive in their off-court adjustments to ensure their style of play is not impacted dramatically. Senior Alex Yee highlights that head coach Jonah Carson is “taking a more personal approach… to building relationships with his players.” Yee explained that since Mr. Carson had a close relationship with many of last year’s graduating seniors, this year he is trying to create new, stronger connections with this different group of athletes. This includes leading “meditation and journaling” as ways to strengthen the team mindset as well as form a relationship built on support from the coaches to the players.
This group of athletes isn’t just new for the coaches, it’s also new for the returning players, including many of the seniors. Student manager Kendall Serrano (’26) highlights that the team is “used to the environment that was on the court last year,” so she finds that many of the new athletes are “bringing a new sense of community… and family” to the team that she’s hoping will help them succeed. Looking back at last year, Yee also comments that “[Coach Carson] saw a lot of flaws and holes in our team as a whole.” Therefore, Mr. Carson put a heavier emphasis on “being buddies [and] being friends both on and off the court.”
One example that Serrano highlighted as an improved change in mindset was the boys’ ability to be more flexible with each other. Since many of the athletes are entering from different volleyball clubs outside of school, they all have had to adjust their playing style to align with specific strategies, plays, and terminology that they may have not been accustomed to. Serrano explains that this shift has allowed for more cohesion and positivity on the court as they “give each other positive remarks in the middle of their huddles and keep hyping each other up.” Just as the coaches’ adjustments intended, the boys are rebuilding their team dynamic on the court, something that will boost their chance for a successful year.
Having only played one game in WCAL so far, in which the boys beat Saint Ignatius College Preparatory 3-0, it’s difficult to determine how the season will play out. Overall, the team currently has a record of 8-5 with a home record of 2-0 indicating a possibility for a successful year, but the inconsistency of win streaks suggests that the season is still up in the air. Junior Tyler Clough is confident in this year’s season, saying that they will “win a lot of games and may lose some,” as long as they keep a consistent mindset to enter each game “trying their hardest and playing their best.” Both Serrano and Yee maintain a similar mentality, with Yee expressing that “as long as we fight, we can bypass the common odds,” and their season will stretch far in CCS and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).
Looking to the future, the team still has a long way to go with necessary wins against many difficult opponents before CCS is even a possibility. Even with this new group of athletes, there’s no doubt that they have a strong chance to have a successful season. However, it will ultimately come down to the right adjustments from coaches, which will need to be put into action by the players. Make sure to come out for the rest of the season and cheer on the boys!
