Improving Newark boys volleyball grabs first win of season
NEWARK — Facing a more daunting schedule with mostly first-time players, year No. 2 for the Newark boys volleyball team has been just as challenging as the first.
The Wildcats, however, saw the light at the end of the tunnel Monday. Returning just three players from last season after graduating a big senior class, Newark earned its first victory of the season, beating visiting Centennial, 25-12, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19, at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.
“Just playing as a team for nine games now, we’ve gotten a lot better at communicating where everyone’s at and learning the positions of where everyone’s at,” said sophomore Adrian Taylor, who joins senior Landon Caw and junior Colin Vermaaten as the only returning players from last season.
“Then, we just have to execute on everything else, but that will come with practice,” Taylor added.
Playing for the first time since 2007, Newark earned six wins last spring. The Wildcats (1-8) this season are playing mostly established Ohio Capital Conference programs.
Newark won its first set of the season Monday and kept right on going. The versatility and experience of Taylor and Caw are invaluable for the Wildcats, who also are receiving significant contributions at the net from junior Curtis Irby and Roman Green.
“It shows what the future holds,” Irby said. “It’s taken us nine games. We all didn’t know each other coming in as a team, but we are all warming to each other. That really helps us work as a team once we get out there on the court and shows what we can do playing as a team. Communication is a key.”
Senior Hunter Cayton is a powerful left-handed swinger opposite fellow wrestler junior James Daugherty. Senior Aydon Heckmann-Kirk, a third wrestler who joins Vermaaten and junior libero Reese Hartshorn in the back row, served six consecutive clutch points in the fourth set as the Wildcats broke away from a 17-17 tie.
“It’s more of knowing they can do it,” Newark coach Steven Durr said. “Getting to 22, getting to 20, that’s more of a moral victory to a point, but it’s finishing. Once you learn to win and finish a couple matches, it’s easier going forward. Those prior matches and prior sets prepared us for the opportunity to win those sets going forward. We had a little letdown there in the third, but honestly, I think the boys wanted to play some more volleyball.”
The first thing new players notice about Durr is his no-nonsense attitude. While Newark is behind the 8-ball because of its inexperience, Durr is determined to win.
Durr starred at Newark during the boys volleyball program’s initial run, and he is a long-time club coach. His desire shows.
“It makes me want to play a lot of harder,” Green said. “He’s very passionate. It makes me want to play my heart out.”
Durr in turn is appreciative of the Wildcats’ enthusiasm to learn the sport and develop their skills.
“Treat it how you would playing for the basketball team, the baseball team, the football team. Give it the same respect and honor,” Durr said. “Volleyball changed my life. It changed who I was going into being an adult. I want to give these kids the same opportunity I had playing the sport I love under the same circumstances of having a good coach and the backing of a great athletic department.”
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