Boys’ Volleyball Keeps Undefeated Season Alive

This Saturday, the Exeter’s boys’ volleyball team travelled 127 miles north to face-off against the Wilbraham & Monson School. Three hours later, the boys returned home without a sweat— victorious with its fourth win of the season. The team had annihilated Wilbraham & Monson by winning three consecutive sets, so they would not have to waste energy playing another two to win the best of five. The boys did not let the Wilbraham & Monson School come anywhere near them, defeating their opponents with 25-11, 25-8 and 25-19 point sets.As the scores show, the game was won with ease. The first two sets were not close at all, so during the third set, the team relaxed a little bit by putting some of the younger, less experienced players on the court.“I was happy to see some of the younger guys make big plays,” co-captain and senior Mitchell Kirsch said.Co-captain and senior Ben Swett commented on the slightly smaller score difference in the third set,“We experimented and played people at different positions so it was a little closer, but we were in control the entire time.”By varying the people in their positions, the team improved as a whole, with all the boys able to gain experience in non ideal circumstances in preparation for when Exeter plays more difficult opponents. As many say, “A team is only as strong as its weakest link.”Kerick Walker, a prep and a new member to the team, stood out as one of the key players of the game.“Kerick Walker is just a winner,” Kirsch praised. “He showed that by making keys blocks and kills down the stretch.”With four wins up its sleeves this season, including an easy victory against its arch-nemesis, Northfield Mount Hermon a couple of weeks ago, the boys are gunning for an undefeated season.“We’ve played the other four teams and beaten each of them 3-0,” Swett said. “So we are the favorite going forward.”In order to do this, the team will not rest on its laurels. It will be using every opportunity to train and get better, knowing that as the season goes on, other teams will also be improving their game.“To be successful for the rest of the season, we’re going to need to push ourselves to get be at our best every game,” Walker said.“As long as we stay competitive among ourselves we will continue to improve and become a better team,” Swett agreed.To prepare for the rest of the season, the boys have been training harder by focusing on the power of their serves, agility and the speed of their spikes so the opponent has less time to react. In the end though, the sport is not just about the end result, but more about the experience.“The rest of the season looks like fun,” Kirsch shared his sentiments about the true objective of the season. “Whenever you have a chance to compete with someone it’s enjoyable.”