The Carlisle High School boys volleyball team is having another successful year after making it to quarterfinals the previous season. This year the Herd boys have been dominating their opponents as they’ve only suffered three losses. Overall, the team has a powerful dynamic that caters to their success reflected in their current 11-3 record.
With only two games left of regular season play, the boys are set to make playoffs again for the third year in a row. Head Coach Drew Kalbach has led them in all three appearances with it only being his fourth year in charge. Last year they not only made the bracket, but they advanced to the second round where they ultimately lost to Cumberland Valley. Although the team has made playoffs the last few years, they have not had this strong of a start in a long time.
“I’m not sure Carlisle boys’ volleyball has ever experienced a start like this.” Kalbach said. “It’s a testament to the skills our guys have been working hard at for years and more importantly, a testament to the teamwork they’ve committed to that ties it all together and has helped us be successful.”
The team won the first seven games of their season before suffering a difficult 1-3 loss to Central Dauphin. They have also fallen to State College and most recently, Cumberland Valley. Even with a few tough losses, the team has been able to learn and grow from their mistakes with an emphasis on mental toughness.
“There are some gaps in our game that we are working hard to address. But the biggest thing we are pushing as coaches is our mentality and trust in one another,” said Kalbach.
Along with building a strong, positive mindset, the boys have built a powerful offense. Junior middle Corey Fitzpatrick said, “We have a very strong front row the whole way around and can get the ball to the setter well from solid passes.”
Another factor in the team’s play style comes from their dynamic with one another on and off the court. Their movement on the court demonstrates how connected they are with one another.
Junior outside Luke Fischer said, “We are a tight knit group of guys. We all love each other off the court and it translates back onto the court working with and off of each other.”
The team travels to State College over the weekend for a tournament. Their second to last regular season game will be on May 6 in the Gene Evans Gymnasium. The Herd is currently ranked fifth in the district.
Kalbach said, “Each season I’ve coached, I’ve been proud of each team’s progress at this point in the season. I’m proud of our guys and what we’ve accomplished so far, but this year feels different because I think the best is yet to come.”
