Buena Boys Volleyball wraps up the year in CIF Playoffs
Buena Boys Volleyball expresses their Bulldog pride after a big win against Ventura.
June 8, 2021
After a year of COVID-19 restrictions, Buena boys volleyball qualified for the CIF playoffs. The team faced plenty of adversity throughout their season including a quick shift into games after not practicing for so long due to the pandemic. Then having to play in a pivotal qualifying game in order to make it to the CIF playoffs.
In an impactful game that would decide whether or not they would make playoffs, they defeated Pacifica in four sets which sent them to the CIF playoffs. The Bulldogs fought all year and finished the season 6-5 with a date against Warren High School in the first round of CIF. Though they fought, it just was not enough as Buena lost within three sets of the game.
“Making CIF in my final year meant a lot. I was able to accomplish my goal of making the playoffs so I was pretty happy,” senior Joshua Rea said, “my favorite memory was scoring and beating Ventura.” Rea added.
As did many other sports, Volleyball was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic which put some obstacles in the way of the program. Practices were moved back and the season cramped in closer. With athletes who wished to play two sports at once it was difficult for some to make it to volleyball events, senior Joshua Rea is a prime example of this.
“I was challenged with not being able to make it to practices since I was busy with basketball,” Rea said.
Not only that but with a team consisting of players from every grade level, this year showed plenty of growth. Especially freshman Solomon Garman who has never played volleyball before this season.
“The level of play is much higher when you get thrown up onto varsity, I had to catch on to the do’s and don’ts and really want to learn from others and my coaches,” Garman said.
It wasn’t just underclassmen that learned a lot this year, junior Caleb Nerida improved himself throughout the year as well, having played volleyball since his freshman year.
“Playing with the seniors, they set the standard for what the program represents and what it should be, whether that be setting up and breaking down or doing tasks that some would not want to do. They’re leaders on the court and show what it means to be a team player.” Nerida said.
This team made the most of their opportunities as they received a schedule that only consisted of league games. Throughout the year they played some close and intense games. They split the season series against Pacifica and smoked our cross town rival Ventura twice both in three sets.
It’s not the end of the road as the Bulldogs look to make another appearance in the CIF playoffs and leave an even further mark in the victory of their program.
