As march quickly approaches, so does the start of the men’s volleyball season. Although its season is just beginning, the team is already thinking long term, beginning to have open gyms this month. These open gyms will allow the coaches to get an idea of the team in preparation for the high school season. According to Joel Kellum, volleyball player and junior, the team has their eyes set on winning the State Championship.

The team has big goals for 2016, making it even more clear how far they have come over the course of the last few years. The team began their 2008 season with only eight players, and now eight years later they are considered one of the top men’s volleyball teams in Indiana. However, the progress made by team has not come easily.

“This class of juniors has definitely become closer and our chemistry has gotten a lot better, just because we’ve been able to play year-round together,” Kellum said. “Having the same coaches has also helped because I know some teams change coaches yearly, so it’s nice that our coaches are staying.”

According to Head Coach Jon Harmon, he has loved seeing the program grow more popular through the years, and he said he feels that going into this season, the team truly does have the potential to finish as State Champions.

“I think (the team) is the best in the state,” Harmon said via email. “We have built into these young men and they have made the decision to invest in the program. There are two or three other programs out there that are very good, but if we work hard, we should control our own future.”

The team practices three to four times a week all throughout the season, and in addition to this, most of the players play in club leagues year round.

Kellum said, “I really enjoy the club season because we get to meet lots of teams from all over. We’ve met Canadian teams, teams from Long Island, Puerto Rico, California, and so it’s fun getting to know my teammates as well as the teams that we play.”

In addition to the club season incorporating teams from all over the world, Alex Schmitt, volleyball player and senior, said that the level of play is increased during the travel season. Schmitt said that although he enjoys the school season, he prefers the club season because it is more intense and the team is able to play against and learn from teams at a higher level.

According to Harmon, the experience that the players get from playing year round, and the increased popularity of men’s volleyball have both been factors in the team’s improvement, but they still have a ways to go.

“We have depth at every position and don’t have any glaring weakness on the court, (but) we only have two seniors and none of our players have participated in a State Finals match so overcoming those nerves will be a challenge should we get that far,” said Harmon.

According to Nicholas “Nick” Baker, volleyball player and junior, in addition to improving the team’s game this season, the team also hopes to see some changes off the court. Since men’s volleyball is not an IHSAA sanctioned sport, it is not run by the Athletic Department at CHS, but rather by parents and coaches. In Baker’s opinion, one ramification of this is a smaller turnout at their games.

“Right now, we pretty much only have parents and the occasional friend coming to our games, but I’m hoping it’ll grow to become like basketball or football where there’s a lot of people coming,” Baker said.

Along with having fewer fans at games, members of the team also feel that there is a lack of coverage of the team through the schools and in the media.

Harmon said, “First and foremost, Indiana is a basketball state when it comes to young male players.  Very few people in Carmel realize it is one of the most popular sports worldwide, and is a varsity recognized sport in several states, including Illinois.  And, we are not afforded the same publicity as sanctioned sports like the girl’s (volleyball) team.”

Although the team does hope for more recognitions this season, Harmon said that ultimately the team has much bigger goals, and believes they can win the State Championship. Men’s volleyball is a growing sport, and by winning State, it gains a lot more recognition than it has now.

“(I want the players) simply to play their best volleyball and be competitive in every match they play.  If they do those things, a State Championship is within their reach.  The key is to focus their goals and attention on the little things and the big things will take care of themselves,” Harmon said.