Boys volleyball team reflects on memorable season

By Zyon Floyd 

Sports Editor

The boys' volleyball season has been a mix of progress, challenges, and growing chemistry, showing that while the team is not at its peak yet, it is steadily improving together, growing from each other, and learning to play as one.

The boys' varsity team played a match against Joliet Township High School. Photo by Bella Velasquez.

students in their lives. Seniors can now enjoy moments of freedom, be themselves, and find their next steps.

For most students, senior year is about their favorite moments; according to Larry Curtis, his came from his Spanish class. 

“It's a couple of my friends in there that I was really close with in freshman year, and we all took that class, and we got back close.” 

Reconnecting with old friends can feel surreal because the last four years have gone by so quickly for him. 

Valedictorian Cadence Argue's favorite moment in high school came from girls' volleyball senior night.

“I got a lot of letters from the underclassmen showing a lot of support and love to me. So, I was crying a lot that night. It was just very emotional for me; it was a very happy moment,” Argue said. 

Students reflecting on their senior year have them realize how far they've come and the accomplishments they've made during this school year at Crete-Monee High School. The reflection for Larry Curtis is filled with exciting plans. 

“I was accepted into my dream school. After high school, I’m going to West Virginia. I plan to major in aerospace engineering,” Curtis said.  

Larry is set and ready for his new chapter after this one closes. 

Argue's achievement was becoming valedictorian. 

“Just getting called down to the principal's office and him shaking my hand and being like, 'You're the valedictorian this year. It really hit home and showed how hard I've worked, all the last four years, and even before that.” 

These students make teachers like Mrs. Hysell proud.

 “I hope they find a path that brings them joy and surround themselves with people who love and support them on whatever journey they choose.”

Argue said she enjoyed the freedom to do what she loves, and the love and support made the time like her girls' volleyball senior night a special moment she will cherish forever.  

Prom gives seniors a chance to get out, go to a fancy venue, dress elegantly, party, socialize, and feast. 

“I'm expecting to have a lot of fun. To see my friends and see all of our cute little outfits. Expecting to see some great food, because I love food. It'll be nice just to get out one night and get along with everybody,” Rice said.  

Others just look at the whole process and preparation for prom.

“Prom is very stressful to plan. But I'm just waiting until all the after-parties. I wanna see who wins, prom queen and king.  It's going to be fun,” Curtis said. 

Graduation is only a couple of weeks away. Before a new chapter comes, there are some requirements to walk the stage.

 “To graduate, seniors need to pass all of their classes, pay any outstanding fees, complete the community service requirement, fill out the FAFSA, and take the Illinois State Test (ACT),” English teacher Ms. Perez said.  

Senior year is coming to an end, and students and teachers look back on the moments they’ll miss about their class of 2026. For many students, the relationships they have built are what they will miss the most. 

“I'm going to miss my underclassmen. Sometimes I just feel like the mother of all these little kids, taking care of them and making sure they’re all right. I will miss being a leader figure to people because I'm about to be a freshman in college.” 

This feeling seems to be mutual in the senior class. 

“I’ll miss the underclassmen and the memories I made with them, and I'll miss my teachers too. Because they all kind of had an impact on me, from the time I got here,” Rice said.  

For others like Larry Curtis, he’ll miss the thing that he has always had with him throughout his years in school.

“I’m going to miss my friends. My friend group met in second grade,” Curtis said. 

The relationships that have been built are irreplaceable and will forever be missed and cherished, Ms. Perez shared. 

“I’ll miss the relationships I built with this group of seniors. Over time, I got to see their personalities, humor, and growth in a way that made the classroom feel like more than just a place to learn; it felt like a shared space where they supported each other,” Perez said. 

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“It's not really good, but it's not really bad. The team is growing by playing as one instead of playing for themselves,” Senior Breeze Bennet said. 

His perspective reflects a larger mindset across the roster. 

“No one is really important; a team is more than one person and requires everyone to function and win games,” senior Savian Haddon said. 

While the team agrees that unity is key, players also recognize that there are still clear areas that need improvement to help them reach regionals. They've been having nice wins around the conference, losing only one game this season, and trying to be conference champs and win it all. 

Their current conference record is 5-1, and they are trying to increase their win record. Bennett admitted that at times the court can feel “dead silent because you don’t know how to communicate because everybody thinks they have an aura.”

 “We kind of struggle communicating with each other sometimes… like we don’t know each other on the court,” senior Jed Zaldarriaga said.

Despite this, players believe those issues can be fixed over time and with consistent effort from everyone, especially as they continue to practice together and build trust. 

That gap shows up most clearly in communication. During games, silence can sometimes take over when it matters most, leading to a bad event.

Even with those challenges, the team is finding ways to grow together, sometimes in different ways. Practices aren’t just about fundamentals; they’re also about building trust, even if it looks a little strange from the outside

“We do like funny team bonding,” Bennett said with a laugh. “Like putting the ball to our face and crawling. 

While the drills might seem silly, they serve a purpose. Assistant coach Will Driver explained that those moments help break down barriers between players. 

“We do drills where everyone has to work together, communicate, and sometimes even laugh at themselves,” Driver said. “Those moments help the team grow closer because everyone is going through it together.”

That emphasis on connection has started to pay off, even if progress is slow. Zaldarriaga sees both the positives and the areas that still need work. 

“If I had to rate the season one through ten, I’d give it like a six,” Zaldarriaga said. “There’s a lot we can work on, but we’re doing well right now.”

One of those areas is consistency, not just in performance, but in effort and focus throughout practice. According to players, intensity tends to build as practice goes on, rather than being there from the start; it all starts from practice.

Will Driver has noticed that pattern and is working to address it by structuring practices that build toward game situations. 

“The first part focuses on specific skills like serving or passing,” Driver said. “The last part is gameplay, because the best way to learn the game is by playing the game.”

Even with the ups and downs, there’s still a strong sense of belief within the team. Players point to their record and their ability to compete as reasons to stay confident moving forward.

“I strongly believe that we are going to be conference champs,” senior Braylon Charles said. “We haven’t lost a conference game yet, and we’re confident about our competition.” 

That confidence isn’t just about winning, it's about growth. Players recognize that success will depend on fixing small mistakes and continuing to improve as a unit.

“We’re making sure everyone is healthy and fixing the little things going into regionals,” Charles said.

At the same time, leadership has begun to emerge in different forms. While the team doesn’t rely on a single star, certain players have stepped into key roles. “Jed has made a big impact with his calmness,” Driver said. “Junior Logan also brings a calm presence that helps take pressure off the team.”

That balance between leadership and teamwork is what makes volleyball unique. Unlike other sports, no single player can carry the game alone. Success depends on how well each piece fits together.

“In volleyball, everyone has an important role,” Driver said. “The team only succeeds when everyone works together.” 

Looking ahead, the team’s goals reflect both ambition and realism. For some players, it’s about personal achievements. For others, it’s about what the group can accomplish together.

“One goal I really have is to get all-conference,” Bennett said. “And I want to either break the serving record or become a stronger server.” Teammates are just as interested in each other’s success.

“One goal I want to complete is to help Breeze get all-conference,” Zaldarriaga said.

 As the season continues, the team remains a work in progress, learning, adjusting, and slowly improving. The silence on the court hasn’t disappeared yet, but it’s starting to fade, replaced by more calls, more energy, and more trust.

For now, “mid” might be the word Bennett uses. But with time, effort, and a little more connection, that description could change into something much more.