Last year, Hickman gained a new sport, boys’ volleyball. The new team has made many accomplishments, even though there is a stigma surrounding the sport that it is only a “girls’ sport” because it is such a female-dominated sport.
The Hickman boys’ volleyball team has grown since its first season, from winning more games to working better as a team. Last year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association approved boys’ volleyball as a sport that could be authorized to be played throughout Missouri.
The sport being introduced only last year makes getting a lot of players with experience difficult. Greg Gunn has been coaching the Hickman girls volleyball team for 26 years and is the head coach for the boys team as well. Coaching people who haven’t played sports before volleyball was something Gunn had never had to do before.
“Last year was kind of a new experience, because I was not used to coaching players that were starting from scratch. You know, most of the boys knew they’d never played sports.” Gunn said. “They’d never had any experience playing organized team sports, and most of them had never played volleyball before.”
Girls can play volleyball starting in middle school as well, so when girls come to Hickman to play volleyball, they already have experience or know the basic skills of the game. With boys, it’s usually the complete opposite.
“So I was starting from scratch, teaching basic skills. When I’m used to more players that got some experience when they get to high school,” Gunn said.
The boys have already shown improvements from last season to this season. They’re putting in a lot of effort to be more successful than last year.
“Last year we were 0 and 20, and this year we’ve already won four matches. So we’re getting better. The boys are working.” Gunn said. “They’re working hard, and they’re gonna do better this year than they did last year.”
Since the opening season, the team dynamic has grown with leadership from returning players.
“Last season, it was kind of just, everyone was new, except for this one senior. So he was kind of the main guy to talk to. So there’s more people now to reach out to.” Player Cole Freed (10) said.
As the season has progressed, the team has shifted focus during practice. Now that players are gaining more experience with the sport, they can move past the basics to more intense and specific skill-based practices.
“[Practices] have gotten more in-depth with the team. We don’t have to practice the fundamentals as much anymore, since kids have kind of gotten used to playing.” Ari Lazinger (10) said. “So we can start doing more in-depth stuff, not just surface-level playing.”
Boys’ volleyball having a stigma surrounding it causes a lack of attendance and interest. This is one of the many obstacles needed to be overcome when adding a new sport.
“I would like for there to be more boys showing up for tryouts, because we are really, I mean, I think we only had 18-19 [boys tryout], and a couple have quit,” Gunn said. “We’re really kind of thin. We don’t have a deep bench at all.”
Though there aren’t a lot of players, they still get many people in the stands to cheer the team on. Having a crowd can help stimulate the team and help them be successful.
“I can definitely feel that energy is different in the stands when I hear the crowd cheering for our team.” Team Captain Zander Yim (11) said.
There are always lessons learned and taught while playing a sport. With volleyball, the coaches aim to teach the boys how to work well with people both on and off the court to help prepare them for their futures.
“Our goals are always [to] give the boys an experience that they enjoy so it’s fun for them, give them opportunities to grow and develop as players,” Gunn said. “Also, as just athletes and students and people, and then make friends, to learn how to work together with other people.”
