Men’s volleyball has spiked in popularity at East Meck. Coach Eric Wojitalewski, also known as Coach Wojo, noticed there were a lot of students interested in the sport and made an official team. The team started practicing last spring and has now expanded to include Junior Varsity and Varsity.
The team had a rough start, with many players not knowing how to pass the ball or hit it over the net.
“Last spring, we were very dysfunctional. We could barely get the ball up,” senior Captain Charlie Wherhiem said. The women’s volleyball team practiced with the men’s team which raised the skill level of both teams. Players started to understand the game better and learned how to improve their passes, sets, hits and serves.
“The new guys who started last spring have grown amazingly,” Coach Wojo Said.
Even though the majority of the players are new to the game, there are some who play club volleyball. These clubs can include South Eastern Volleyball Academy (SEVA), Carolina Union Volleyball Club (CUVC), Triad United Volleyball Academy (TUVA) and more.
The East Meck Men’s volleyball team has a total of 14 games–seven home games and seven way games. The team had their first two matches against Ballantyne Ridge and Butler, winning both games.
Practice can look different daily– it can be anything from passing drills to learning different hitting techniques. The players also learn how to stack. This is where the setter fakes hitting the ball to confused the other team and set its to another players, allowing them to hit the ball over the net.
During games and practice Wojo encourages the players if they seem in their head. This can be throughout a timeout during a game or after a set. “It’s just reassuring players and letting them know it’s okay,” Wojo said.
Even though the season just started, the team is looking forward to seeing how they all progress.
“I’d say we all have room to grow and get better as a team,” Wherheim said. Players got to make new friends and have a good time playing volleyball. This helps build relationships throughout the team, motivating them as a result.
He is looking forward to seeing the players continue to grow in different ways and hopefully make it to the playoffs.
Wojo’s also hoping to see more people get interested in the sport. “I’d love to see more people get out there and start to understand the game and hopefully get some more guys interested in playing.”
