Men’s volleyball advanced through three rounds in The Academy Men’s Collegiate Invitational in Indianapolis last Saturday with two wins (2-0 and 2-1) and one loss (1-2). The games were part of an exhibition tournament that helped the team prepare for their official season, which will start in January.
Head coach Jeff Phillips has had this tournament on his radar since he took over the program early last year. “[The tournament] was one of those ones we kind of planned to make sure that we got into this year,” he said. “It just gives us an idea to obviously go play some teams that … give us a chance to run some lineups,” Phillips said.Kendrick Acda, a junior nursing major, talked about the hopes this tournament brought: “These were our first few matches together as a team, so we really just built on that chemistry and coordination,” he said.
Wyatt Bollinger, an assistant coach who was tasked with leading the team on Saturday, added, “It was so fun to go watch them play and execute at a high level … and they showed up in a big way.”
After losing some starting players last year, the coaches looked to bring in new talent to improve the squad as a whole. “They bring a lot of good energy, and they’re also willing to learn,” Bollinger said. According to Acda it’s been a welcome change: “[The new players] have their own expectations of the team, and they also want to integrate with other players,” he said.
The team is looking forward to the first official game, and after their promising start in Indianapolis, it’s shaping up to be an exciting season. Be sure to come out and support the Maple Leafs as the season gets its official start next semester.
