​Shorthanded Eagles shine at preseason jamboree

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
The Grain Valley boys volleyball team had a challenge on its hands.
 
The Eagles participated in a three-team jamboree with Northland Christian and Grandview Monday at Northland Christian High School.
 
The Eagles were shorthanded with last year’s kills leader Maddox Dresslaer being out with an injury. Other projected starters like Tyler and Tristan Hoyt, Jace Rawlings and Ryan Rohr were all away due to being on vacation for spring break.
 
Head coach Tori Squiers also was not available as she was out of the state, as well. So that left assistant coach Matt McLaughlin with a few rotation players and some junior varsity team members to compete in the jamboree.
 
Even while shorthanded, the Eagles looked strong and managed to defeat Northland Christian 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 and topped Grandview 22-25, 25-20, 32-30.
 
The jamboree allowed each team to play a best-of-three sets format against the other two teams and the score of each game started with each team having four points.
 
While Grain Valley got off to slow starts in both matches, it surged in the final two games to capture wins.
 
“We had our ups and downs, but I really liked how we finished,” McLaughlin said. “That’s the most important thing, I think. That was the first varsity volleyball match for a lot of these guys. To play as good as we did while missing five starters, it was good to see.”
 
Senior Jordan Jackson was also impressed with how some of the newcomers fared.
 
 “A lot of the new guys really stepped up and found their role tonight,” Jackson said. “We have some starters who are out of town, but we have another group of guys who know how to play.”
 
Jackson, who serves as a hybrid setter and outside hitter, was a huge bright spot for the Eagles as he showed off his all-around game. He got multiple kills, blocked a good number of shots, set up teammates for opportunities to score and his jump serve was effective.
 
At the beginning of the third set against the Bulldogs, he notched three consecutive aces. It was an ultra-competitive set which saw both teams score 30 or more points. After a long battle, he got a key block that resulted in a point and the win for the Eagles.
 
“It makes everything easier when you have a guy like Jordan,” McLaughlin said. “It helps cover up for mistakes we may have elsewhere. And he’s a leader on the court and he lets guys know where to be.”
 
Sophomore Dierks Habermehl had similar sentiments regarding Jackson.
 
“Jordan has been amazing,” Habermehl said. “He’s a really good setter and he always knows where to be. He’s also a great dude.”
 
Sophomore Dierks Habermehl is a newcomer playing varsity for the first time and he’s someone who could emerge as a key contributor for the Eagles. He showed why on Monday as he got multiple kills on the outside. He also had a strong serve that helped his team accumulate points.
 
“Dierks has been pretty steady all preseason,” McLaughlin said. “He’s been good in practice, and it was good to see that translate to a game today. He’s a sophomore but has more experience that a lot of guys.”
 
Grain Valley’s clear strength was its serving. Nearly everyone served well, including sophomore Houston Jennings, who hit the ball hard on his attempts and made it difficult for the other teams to return the ball.
 
“We have a lot of guys who can put up a good serve,” Jackson said.
 
Despite the wins, there are a couple of areas Grain Valley needs to shore up before their season opener against Rockhurst on March 25, McLaughlin said. Grain Valley had a lot of errors at the net, which resulted in points for Grandview and Northland Christian. Before the season, Squiers noted improving on defense would be key to the team having a successful season. On Monday, McLaughlin noted there was work to do there, too.
 
“I think that can be traced back to the serve receive,” McLaughlin said. “It all starts from there. If the initial pass is slightly off, it gets us out of our system.”

​Grain Valley senior Tucker Hughes, center, bumps the ball, while sophomores Dierks Habermehl, left, and Aiden Mather look on.

Eagles Freshman Tyler Riggle prepares to receive the serve.

Grain Valley senior Jordan Jackson saves the ball from hitting the floor with a backward bump as from left, sophomore Max Wilson, senior Tucker Hughes and sophomore Aiden Mather look on.

Photo credit: Michael Smith