The Dos Pueblos High School boys varsity volleyball team started their league season strong with a 3-0 win at home against Rio Mesa on March 5, followed by a 3-2 win away against Pacifica High School yesterday. With these wins, the Chargers improved to 2-0 in Channel League play, putting them in first place, and 7-2 overall.
Kicking off their league season with a strong start, the team looks to improve in practices in order to keep up their momentum.
According to outside hitter Tennyson Riley (11), the team’s offense is solid, with “strong outside hitters” and “good middles,” which are key parts to their offensive power. However, he feels that their defense could use improvement.
“The flip side of having offense be our strength is our defense is in need of work,” Riley said. “We’ve been spending a lot of time doing defensive drills, working on passing and blocking, and communicating so we don’t bump into each other.”
Members of the team also pointed out that focus on the court has been a struggle, often leading to giving away points.
“We sometimes can lack focus and drive in games, especially against lower-level teams,” setter Keenan Bower (12) said.
Riley also expressed that losing focus can cost the team because they make mistakes, which gives the opponents an advantage.
“Unforced errors are the biggest problem,” Riley said. “I think right now, the most important thing we can focus on to win games is to just not hand the other team points.”
Bower added that volleyball puts you “in the spotlight,” which is different from most other sports.
“[Volleyball] requires more focus than other sports where you can hide on the field. You can’t really hide on the volleyball court,” Bower said.
Many players say the team’s strength lies in their “teamwork and unity,” and the team has been working on building its chemistry with new and returning players.
“I think our team bonding has been great, and we’re all friends on and off the court,” Bower said. “We all care about each other, and we’ll goof off, and we’ll face punishments together, but we’ll also grind and work hard together at the same time.”
The team plans on participating in bonding activities as the season progresses.
“We’re gonna go to the UCSB vs UCI game next Friday, because one of our alumni is on the UCI team,” said Ben Wojogbe (12), an outside hitter.
Riley shared that volleyball is very dependent on how well the team works together.
“You have to let your ego take a backseat, because as a volleyball player, if you’re playing with yourself in mind, you’re playing selfishly, and it will reflect on your team’s performance,” Riley said. “I think that’s probably the biggest mental difference. You’re working for the purpose of your team doing well, instead of you yourself doing well.”
When in the midst of games, Bower shared that he only thinks about the point at hand and leaves the past in the past. He tries to “forget the point before and focus on the current point”. If he ever messes up, his coach tells him to “be like a goldfish and move on from a mistake”.
With the rest of the league season in front of them, the boys volleyball team looks to carry their success throughout the season, including their matchup against crosstown rivals, San Marcos High School.
“I really hope we can win the Channel League,” Wojogbe said. “We haven’t played SM yet. They’ve been good historically, but I think this year we have a chance of beating them.”
The team plays SMHS at home in the Sovine Gym today at 6:30 p.m.
date correction edited 3/12/26
