Carlmont High School Volleyball Season Preview

The team at Carlmont High School has high aspirations for this upcoming season. Their goal is to make it to the NorCal Championships and hopefully win their second consecutive state title. With 12 returning seniors, including league MVP and setter Kevin Tomita, this team has a strong foundation to build upon. We had the opportunity to speak with Coach Daniel Nelson about his expectations for the team and what makes them special. When asked about the overall goals for the team this season, Coach Nelson emphasized their desire to make it to NorCal once again and also win back-to-back state titles. With the majority of their core team returning, this shouldn't be too far out of reach. Coach Nelson also mentioned that one of the keys to their success is their senior leadership. The team is lucky to have Tomita as their setter, whose steady presence and leadership during tough times make the team tough to beat. Along with Tomita, senior outside hitter Sean Murphy had an incredible run in last year's playoffs, consistently hitting over blocks. Senior libero Will Won also brings a level of skill and experience to the team, improving his digging stats from last year and earning a spot in the top 10 on Max Preps. Overall, the returning seniors bring both talent and leadership to the team, making them a force to be reckoned with. Despite the returning core team, there are a few new players that Coach Nelson believes have the potential to make an immediate impact. However, with such a strong core group, it will be tough for these new players to break into the starting lineup. Coach Nelson believes that the biggest thing he looks for in potential team captains is a positive attitude. He believes that a good team has great leaders that are coaches, but a great team has leaders that are players. This is the case with Tomita, who is the team's captain, and Devin Engberg, who was named assistant captain for his hard work during the off-season program. Team chemistry and camaraderie are essential for success on the volleyball court. Coach Nelson recognizes that the younger players may need some assistance in building relationships with the older players. The team has a tradition of attending an overnight tournament in Sanger, which helps to strengthen team chemistry and also allows them to face off against tough opponents. This year, the team will be facing off against the top 3 divisions of NorCal winners from last year at this tournament.