The boys’ volleyball team at Scituate High School is up and running, and they will soon jump into their second season ever this spring. The coach of the team, John Nyberg, explained that SHS sophomore Caleb Foley and his family were enormously supportive of getting the team started. In addition, Jen Harris, the girl’s varsity volleyball coach, said that some middle school male players who attended clinics were inspired to start the program and pitched the idea to Athletic Director Scott Paine. She also emphasized how greatly Coach Nyberg pushed to get the team started.

The majority of team members were new to the game during the inaugural season last spring, but this didn’t dim their effort or dedication. Throughout the season, the team participated in many competitive 5-set matches and ended the season with a 2-8 record.  Coach Nyberg explained, “I think the progress they made from where we started the season, with a lot of them not even knowing the game, to where we were at the end of the season, it was huge.” This compliment by Nygerg shows the progress the team as a whole and individual members have made and what a difference one season can make.

SHS senior Ben Eachus, a second-year player on the team, said, “The start of the season was a pretty general challenge across the board. Overall, just learning the sport and learning how the team aspect works in volleyball was difficult, but we worked through it.” As it was a new sport for many, learning the skills and teamwork necessary to play was challenging, but as a team, the boys overcame and conquered the difficulties.

Coach Nyberg attempted to get a boys’ volleyball team together for the last few years, and he was committed to making it happen. So when it was finally established at SHS, he used the opportunity to educate and invigorate players. Coach Nyberg played in high school and on a club team at Cornell University, so he was excited to share this passion with players.  When asked about the positive aspects of starting a boys’ volleyball team at Scituate, Coach Nyberg explained, “It was a lot of fun to get some guys out there that haven’t played the game before and teach them. A lot of them really excelled. We were able to get in a bunch of games last season, and a few wins.”

Coach Nyberg is excited to see growth in the program. When asked about his goals for the upcoming season, he exclaimed, “I would like to have high expectations, and hope that we can get a few wins this season, but I just want to see the guys playing well, enjoying it, having a good time, and being a team together.”

Many players are excited to play at a higher level this year and inspire interest in new and younger players. Eachus said his main goal this season is to “just improve, improve, improve.”