By ZAARA MALIK
The boys varsity volleyball team had a successful season and got ready to say goodbye to a bond that left them with countless memories on and off the court.
Sophomore Chase Ngai completed his first year on the team. As a setter and right side, his flexibility on the court made his connection with upperclassmen essential. He said, “My seniors are the people who push me to play the sport better and make me want to play the sport at an even higher level.”
Junior Mark Sheen was pulled up for playoffs last season and plays libero. He said, “We’re all able to hype each other up. Someone hits a nice hit, we’ll all get hyped and we’ll all be excited for each other.”
The team secured a postseason home game advantage after winning their last regular season games against Hicksville and Oceanside, showing how crucial teamwork could be on the court.
When it came to building connections with underclassmen, senior and captain Arnav Hak said, “Transparency is probably one of the more important aspects; not only captains, but all upperclassmen in general. We point out things and handle things that are needed because it’s important to make sure there aren’t any problems.”
Junior Brandon Klein is a second year varsity player and has had a special bond with the upperclassmen since sophomore year. Regarding his relationship with the upperclassmen, he said, “As the year has gone on, I’ve become like best friends with them, and they’ve been amazing role models for me.”
After an intense 3-2 win against Oceanside, the team progressed to round two against Massapequa, continuing to build their chemistry. Captain Ethan Kim said, “We’re just continuing to be friends with each other and having fun with each other, which is important to keep us together and motivated to reach our goals.”
Coach Okulski prioritizes instilling both a sense of responsibility and teamwork within his players. He said, “The best way is to always treat them equally as a coach. Everyone puts up and takes down the net. Everything is done as a team, not as individuals.”
Despite putting up a strong fight against Massapequa, the number one seed of the conference, the Jericho team’s playoff run came to an end. The efforts and bonds created may not have given the team a conference championship, but it definitely gave them memories for a lifetime.