San Dieguito Academy Boys Volleyball Season Preview

As the head coach of the San Dieguito Academy boys' varsity volleyball team, Coach Taylor Hoff is gearing up for another exciting and competitive season. With a strong core of returning players and some promising new additions, the team is looking to build upon their success from last season and shoot for even higher goals. One of the key strengths of the team this year is its experienced players. With some key returning players, including senior third-year varsity Libero and Outside Hitter Henry Wegener who serves as team captain, senior second-year varsity Middle Hitter Andrew Paul, junior second year Setter Trevor Anderson, junior second year Opposite and Outside Hitter Chase Estrin, and junior second year Outside Hitter Alex Sundell, the team has a solid foundation to build upon. Coach Hoff is especially impressed by the leadership qualities of his returning players, noting that they have great chemistry with their teammates and hold themselves and others accountable in practice and games. As a result, these players have been chosen as team captains for this season. But Coach Hoff also has high expectations for some of the new players on the team. Xander Tsintikidis, a senior first-year varsity player, is a standout with great skills despite having minimal time playing indoor volleyball. Junior first-year varsity player Grant Volz is also eager to prove himself and show his importance to the team, while senior first-year varsity player Parker Kilby brings a strong commitment and work ethic to the table. One of the biggest challenges facing the team this season is moving up a league to the highly competitive Avocado League, which includes all Division 1 schools for indoor volleyball. However, this challenge is just motivating the team to work even harder and prepare themselves for post-season playoffs. In addition, the team will be participating in the newly created Encinitas Rivalry Cup with La Costa Canyon High School, adding a fun but competitive element to the season. When it comes to coaching style, Coach Hoff emphasizes the importance of equal opportunities for all players and the team's motto of "We/Me" to emphasize the importance of teamwork and the collective goal of success. While he may have started as a fun and supportive assistant coach, he has evolved to become a more stern, confident, and supportive manager/coach for the team. To prepare for the season, the team has been working on enhancing their skills and team chemistry through beach volleyball exposure and off-season indoor practices.