By Judd Liebman

After having their three-game winning streak snapped by rival Loyola on April 22, the boys’ volleyball team looks to bounce back and not only to make the playoffs, but also reach the advanced rounds.

“We’ll definitely make the playoffs. That will be reaching our main goal, but how far we get through playoffs depends on who we play. The end of the season is bound to be good,” Captain Ryan Plueger ’10 said.

The boys’ volleyball team goes into the end of their season with a 10-7 overall record and 6-3 league record. The team’s strong record is a direct result of hard work on the court, setter Stephen Carr ’12 said.

The end of the season is going to bring wins for the squad against some pretty tough teams, Carr said. The team has gone on three separate three-game winning streaks, along with one three-game losing streak.

“As the season progresses, our record will improve with wins against our rivals,” he said.

The team’s performance is very similar to its 2009 season. The team had a 8-4 league record last year along with a 15-9-2 overall record.

That the team has only had trouble with Loyola and Crespi means it is a big force in its league, Carr said.

A lot of the team’s success is due to their team chemistry and talent. The players work to overcome the team’s weaknesses by playing smart and knowing the game.

“We know and understand our individual roles and play smart volleyball while on the court,” Josh Schwartz ’11 said.

“A strength of the team is our big hitters,” he said. “Our height really makes for an effective offense, as well as providing really strong defensive block.”

The team has been practicing five days a week by watching film to learn about their opponents, practicing drills that mimic games, and improving their fundamentals and physical strength.

“The coaching staff is great at helping us with any aspects of the game that we need to work on,” Carr said. “All of our coaches have really helped the players to reach their potential by working with them individually in practice.”

Some of the team’s losses can be attributed to injuries that it had to work through, Carr said.

Starting libero Matthew Goldhaber ’11 suffered a fracture in his spine before the first game of the season.

“He is a really skilled libero and our team looks forward to his complete recovery,” Carr said.

The return of Goldhaber could help boost the team down its final stretch of games.

The team won two close games against Oaks Christian and Alemany, both of which went to five games.

“They were both good opportunities to show our mental toughness and resilience,” Schwartz said.