The boys volleyball team clinched the District finals title on Nov. 4, in their inaugural season. The team, which started the season as a group of enthusiastic but mostly inexperienced players, ended their season with a victory against Annandale High School. The district’s final game was a close five-set game, being 13-15 in set five.
At the start of the season, expectations were low. For many players, this was their first time competing in organized volleyball.
“In the beginning, all I expected going in was a fun season with a sport I had never played competitively before, and to meet people that I hadn’t known before either,” senior captain Leo Valli said. “Most of us had barely any experience with the sport prior to Jefferson having a team, and that showed in our gameplay during the first couple [of] scrimmages.”
Despite a rocky start after losing their first five games, the team quickly adapted. Their determination led them to a 12-game win streak, driven by both technical improvements and stronger teamwork.
“Getting used to each other as teammates was probably the biggest part of our progress,” Valli said. “You can’t have a good volleyball team by just throwing some good players together—they need to be able to work together.”
The District finals match against Annandale High School was a rollercoaster for both the players and the spectators. From the beginning, the energy in the gym was high as Jefferson faced a strong opponent.
“We were fairly confident in our abilities to win that game,” Valli said. “However, Annandale really did give us a challenge, so there were moments [when] we had to remind ourselves that victory wasn’t guaranteed.”
Despite the pressure, the team focused on playing their best.
“Other than excitement and being a bit anxious before and during the game, I just tried to stay positive so that we played better as a team,” junior Nick Boukens said.
The match was a back-and-forth battle. Jefferson won the first set after a strong comeback, but Annandale responded, winning the second. The pattern repeated for the third and fourth sets, keeping everyone on edge.
“Not only were every single one of the sets close, but in each one, the team that ended up winning was behind at some point in the set,” Valli said. “Even when we lost a set, we never lost our confidence. Not only that, but we were enjoying every point of the game, even the ones we lost.”
Long rallies and close sets defined the match, showing the team’s unwavering spirit and love for the game. When the final point was scored, sealing Jefferson’s victory, everyone celebrated.
“I appreciated seeing everyone go crazy when we won. I loved the energy, and it made it so much more memorable,” Valli said.
This victory marks the start of an exciting future for the boys volleyball program.
“The feeling of winning was incredible. It was amazing to be the first-ever [Jefferson boys] volleyball team and to win districts,” Boukens said. “All I remember was shouting in excitement so hard that my ear popped for a second.”