Not many people know of our boys volleyball team and their success over the past few years. Our Truckers have gone to Regionals two years in a row with almost a whole new set of players in 2015. The team lost eight out those 14 players in 2016, leaving just enough for a starting line up, consisting of six players.
The team, however, gained new players, some coming out for their very first time to fill any holes they felt they had in their line-up. In 2016, the team’s trip to Regionals was cut short by Colonial Heights, just one step away from competing for the state championship and ending the regular season with a record of 8-5 and regional record of 3-3.
This fall, the team retained seven of the 14 players from last year’s roster. With the new changes to the districts, they’ll have to compete against teams from out of conference to gain points for each win -- three points for a victory against a 4A team and seven points for a victory against a 5A or 6A team.
Name: KeSean Patillo
Jersey#: 2
Likes: Tacos, White Tigers, Food in general
One thing you dislike: Bad calls
Other sports: Baseball, Swimming
How long you’ve been playing: 3rd year, Junior
Hope to accomplish: Win the state championship and get a ring
Something you like about volleyball: Getting kills
Coach Comment: He’s funny and learns quick
Name: Alexander “Alex” Moody
Jersey#: 8
Likes: Soccer, travelling, and Winning long games
Dislikes: Carrying calls
Other sports: Soccer
How long you’ve been playing: 1st year, Sophomore
Hope to accomplish: Get good serves in every game
Something you like about volleyball: Getting my digs for back row passing
Coach Comment: He’s a cool coach aside from making us run stairs
Name: Benjamin “Ben 10” Coker
Jersey#: 10
Likes outside of volleyball: I like going out and that type of thing
Dislikes: Double calls
Other sports: I don’t play anything else at the moment
How long you’ve been playing: 2nd year, Sophomore
Hope to accomplish: Become the #1 setter on the team
Something you like about volleyball: Setting everywhere but backwards
Coach Comment: “He loves to make us run”
Name: Brennan Ashe
Jersey#: 16
Likes outside of volleyball: I don’t really play soccer for a team but it’s fun
Dislikes: Putting each other down
Other sports: Soccer (kinda)
How long you’ve been playing: 2nd year, Junior
Hope to accomplish: Win against Heritage
Something you like about volleyball: Getting in intense games
Coach Comment: He really believes in us
Name: Elijah “Eli” Wilshire
Jersey#: 11
Likes outside of volleyball: I usually just like to chill or work on soccer
Dislikes: Bad sportsmanship
Other sports: Soccer
How long you’ve been playing: 3rd year, Junior
Hope to accomplish: I hope we’re going to beat Heritage to be #1 going to regionals
Something you like about volleyball: My serves are always pretty good
Coach Comment: He’s good at helping us adapt
Name: Allan “Gray”
Jersey#: 12
Likes: I play soccer when I’m free
Dislikes: Nothing really
Other sports: Soccer
How long you’ve been playing: 1st year, Junior
Hope to accomplish: Win with my team
Something you like about volleyball: I’ve never played it before
Coach Comment: He teaches me something new everyday almost
Name: Isaac “Mr. Morrisson” Morrisson
Jersey#: 1
Likes outside of volleyball: Soccer
Dislikes: No teamwork
Other sports: Football, Soccer
How long you’ve been playing: 5th year senior
Hope to accomplish: Win states and make all conference (district)
Something you like about volleyball: Keeping the team up
Coach Comment: He just started last year and already went to regionals twice
Name: Nathaniel “Nat” Morrisson
Jersey#: 7
Likes outside of volleyball: Soccer and watching sports
One thing you dislike: Jerseys
Other sports: Football, Soccer
How long you’ve been playing: 3rd year Sophomore
Hope to accomplish: To become regional champions and make all-conference
Something you like about volleyball: Seeing my name online for doing good
Coach Comment: He’s good at adapting after losses
Name: Rontre “Pope” Pope
Jersey#: 4
Likes outside of volleyball: Basically Basketball
Dislikes: Losing
Other sports: Basketball
How long you’ve been playing: 4th year, Senior
Hope to accomplish: Win regionals and go to states
Something thing you like about volleyball: Winning
Coach Comment: He’s cool and keep us up in games
Name: Zytaviah “Luhh Quick” Quick
Jersey#: 3
Things you like about volleyball: It’s fun, It’s different and I just like hitting
One thing you dislike: Practice times
Other sports: Basketball
How long you’ve been playing: 2nd year
Hope to accomplish: Become regional champions, and get a chance at states
Thoughts on next year: I don’t know if I’ll play next year but you never know
Something you like about volleyball: Blocking
Coach Comment: “He’s cool peoples”
Name: Revindi “Melvin” Louis-Pierre
Jersey#: 18
Likes: Clothes, Teamwork, Soccer
Other sports: Soccer
How long you’ve been playing: 1st year, Senior
Hope to accomplish: Keep winning
Something you like about volleyball: It’s fun
Coach Comment: He’s my soccer coach too so I gotta do good
These 11 players together make up the boys volleyball team and 11 out of the 11 players asked said they have a really good shot at going to region and state tournaments. This year the top opponent in the district is Norfolk’s Heritage High School, the same team that beat them last year to go on to states. That being said, that will be a showdown to see between the two top teams in this district to see who goes on to become regional champions. I’m willing to bet this year our boys are ready to win it all!
Photos: Aniyah Smith