The bleachers vibrated and the packed Ventura College gym rang with the sound of stamping feet Saturday night as sophomore Tanner Nodolf aced the ball, tying the score 20-20 in the third set of the boys’ volleyball game.

The bleachers vibrated and the packed Ventura College gym rang with the sound of stamping feet Saturday night as sophomore Tanner Nodolf aced the ball, tying the score 20-20 in the third set of the boys’ volleyball game.

The Dragons had narrowly lost the previous two sets to Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School with scores of 15-25 and 24-26. This final set would determine if the Dragons would continue to fight in the team’s first CIF game.

A few minutes later, however, Mission Prep regained the lead by three points until a failed serve on their part and a score by the Dragons brought the score up to 22-23.

The crowd held their breath as Mission Prep spiked the ball and gained one point, but cheered a few seconds later as Foothill made another as well. However, in a last fight for the ball, Mission Prep won their final point and the set ended 23-25, with a game total score of 0-3 in Mission’s favor.

Despite the loss, Coach Janine Cobian was “very proud of the boys,” considering the height and age advantage of the players on Mission’s team.

“They played awesome and they did such a great job. We started off a little slow in set one [because] I think we were a tad bit intimidated by the size of the boys on the other team,” she said. “We’re a little bit smaller and much younger, but I just think the boys showed so much heart and they played so well […] I couldn’t be more proud.”

Sophomore Chad Talaugon was “super stoked” on how his teammates played as well, commenting that “everything” went well for the team in this tough game.

“We were super cohesive going up against a team with probably [a] majority [of] seniors and a lot of tall, tall, tall players. I think we played super well,” he said. “[We] could’ve been slightly more aggressive, but honestly, I wasn’t focusing on what we were doing wrong; I was having a good time with my team.”

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Junior and libero Ian Overton says he felt “a little bit of disbelief” when Mission Prep made the final point, but “can’t be angry just because of the tremendous growth we’ve experienced throughout the season.”  

“I remember last season we’d be lucky if we got a pass within a five foot vicinity of our setter, but now this year our defense has really stepped up,” Overton recounts. “Hitting [has] always been really good, but our defense [has] grown tremendously from last season.”

Coach Cobian also commented on the strength of the team’s defense.

“Our defense always keeps us in the game and our serving was tough tonight. We had many aces, our setting was, to be honest, much stronger than the other team’s so I think that helped us out too, but overall, everything [went well]. The boys played very consistent[ly],” she said.

The progression of the team’s rank from the previous season makes this “the best season we’ve ever had,” according to sophomore Jerod Frederick.

“Compared to last year, our skills have improved amazingly. We’re a lot better than last year, I’ll just say that. Last year we were second worst, this season we went to CIF so that’s quite a ways to go,” he said.

The only freshman on the team, Stefan Fahr, is excited to see the changes in the team’s dynamics next year.

“Specifically, I’m definitely excited to see the new people that might get onto the team and also how the team comes back and changes,” Fahr said. “It’s definitely gonna be really interesting to see how we come back [because] we’re gonna play better […] and it’s gonna be great.”

Coach Cobian, on the other hand, is ready to see some physical growth in her players.

“I am excited for some growth. I mean, even if it’s just an inch on each boy and not growth in terms of skills in volleyball but growth in height. They’re gonna grow a couple inches and that’s gonna be awesome and […] they’re just gonna get better,” Cobian said.

“And the thing is, they’re willing to work and they love it and they’re such good boys and they have a good time together so I think it’s absolutely going to get better,” she continued. “So watch out next year because we’re gonna dominate.”

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Overton also shares this mentality in the team’s domination.  

“Oh, we’re going to destroy everybody,” he said. “There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind we will be first place next season and next season we’ll be able to crush teams like that.”

“We’re gonna get taller, we’re gonna get bigger, there is no limit to how much we [can] grow,” Overton continued. “From last season to this season, we’ve grown exponentially and if we continue that trend, we’re gonna make a run for CIF. I’m calling it right now.”

Background Photo Credit: Grace Carey / The Foothill Dragon Press