Paul McCarthy has a listing of guidelines he’s developed for his gamers through the years because the longtime head coach of the Lowell boys volleyball crew – protecting effort, perspective, and such on the court docket. It’s the type of factor that’s helped this system develop leaps and bounds since assistant coach Brandon Seng performed for McCarthy in 2012.
When mentioning the checklist to an outsider, the always-modest coach kind of shrugs it off. No massive deal. But to senior hitter Tevin Lout, who couldn’t play for this system his sophomore and junior years due to COVID, it’s fairly vital.
“He showed me the picture (he kept) of the rules I set for the team three years ago,” McCarthy stated. “I was surprised he still had them.”
One of the quieter leaders of the crew, Lout says lacking the final two years – 2020 due to no season, 2021 due to household at high-risk – was extra out-of-sight, out-of-mind for him. Those who see his ardour on the court docket and his fixed reminders throughout apply that “this year is (his) year,” know in any other case.
He missed enjoying. So did senior setter Alex Chau, who missed the identical period of time to concentrate on basketball.
With the 2 moving into key roles as a part of a 12-1 begin, it’s protected to say the crew missed them too.
“When the seniors graduated, the two captains (Kythan Ses and Izaviah Hong), they (said), ‘This is what we’re missing, these are the two guys that we need,’” Seng stated. “They went out to go get them, and they were on board. They got everything ready to go, nobody missed their physicals, everybody signed up on time. … They take it to another level, pushing everybody. One goal they have in mind – they want to win.”
Lout has performed volleyball just about his complete life, going to a neighborhood park to hit round along with his buddies. He missed the final two years strictly due to COVID. Chau is open to attempting out new issues, evident by his involvement on the unified basketball crew after interacting along with his two cousins with autism extra. He began enjoying volleyball in center faculty as a result of his good friend circle – alongside along with his brother – at all times needed to hit round on the park.
The passions they present for the game are totally different. But with Lout usually posing a risk for 20-plus kills and Chau hovering 30 assists each recreation, their significance is equal. So is their want to win, and their pleasure to be again.
“It was difficult last year (not to come back), I felt like I let the team down,” Lout stated. “(The excitement to be back) is to prove a name for myself, and all of us. We came up short last year … we want to take it pretty far.”
“It’s my senior year, I’m not going to do nothing during my last few months, so I might as well play with my guys,” Chau added. “It’s been a lot of fun. … We want state’s. We want to put the number on the banner.”
So far, Lowell has misplaced simply the one recreation – a 3-2 defeat to Westford Academy – with lower than a month left within the common season. There’s little question the Raiders wouldn’t be at this level with out them, together with the spectacular feats of Hong, Ses and center blocker Mustafa Salih.
This yr would possibly simply be Lout’s yr for a giant run – particularly within the Merrimack Valley Conference. Either approach, he and Chau are simply joyful to be again at it.
Side-outs
• Following a win over Lexington final month, St. John’s Prep senior setter Dan Schorr stated the crew isn’t shying away from the final word aim – making it to, and profitable, the Div. 1 state championship – this yr. His Eagles are 15-1 after beating fellow contender Newton South on Monday, and rank No. 4 within the newest Div. 1 MIAA energy rankings.
• Westford Academy has surged to the No. 2 spot within the energy rankings, driving an 11-game win streak with notable victories over Newton South, Lowell, Lincoln-Sudbury and Acton-Boxboro.
Source: www.bostonherald.com