Shane Holderby is First Colonial's Attack Leader
First Colonial boys' volleyball coach Gary Hodges is optimistic that the Patriots' experience will help them return to the state tournament, a feat they managed to accomplish two years ago but has since eluded them. “We've got most of our starting lineup returning,” explains Hodges, “and many of them play Junior Olympic volleyball, so they have been involved all summer long.”
Last season, the team was knocked out of state-level competition by one game and many of the young men were extremely disappointed by that loss. Hodges explains that one goal of the squad this season is to rectify their performance and make it back to the state tournament. Given the caliber of athletes that take to the court this season, that is a realistic expectation.
There are several key areas in which the Patriots will dominate their opponents this season. They have shown dominance in the hitting attack and the returning starters will continue to excel in that area. Defensively, First Colonial has shown that it blocks well and is capable of managing anything that opponents send to their side of the net. Serving will likewise help the Patriots rack up points, with more than a handful jump serving the ball.
Hodges has these young men constantly repeating the fundamentals of the game in practice; a technique he believes gets them ready for the situations they will encounter in games. “Many of the points that are scored in games are done so because of errors,” he says. “So we are constantly drilling the basic things like passing and blocking, to make sure that we don't make errors and that we are able to capitalize on the mistakes of the other team. It's the simple things that will help win games.”
Several standouts are helping to lead the Patriots this season, perhaps all the way to the state tournament. Matt Smith, a senior and four-year starter, anchors the middle of the Patriots' squad. With plenty of experience under his belt as well as the technical command of the game, he will likely prove to be one of the best of his position in the Beach District. Zac Peterson, a junior and three-year starter, will play outside for First Colonial. The setter this season is a freshman, Chase Holderby, who is unseasoned so far in varsity play but has spent time in the Junior Olympics and comes from a family of accomplished volleyball athletes.
Shane Holderby, a senior (and Chase's older brother), is First Colonial's attack leader. The Patriots' setter for the past three seasons, Holderby has handed that position off to his younger brother and is now showing his command of the game at outside hitter.
Not only is Holderby, as well as his younger brother, accomplished in the sport, but volleyball is a family affair as well. When his family lived in Europe several years ago, Holderby's father, who was deployed there in the military, played both on the Italian pro beach tour and on a national English team. “I've been playing since I was about five years old,” explains Holderby. “This is a sport that I definitely love.”
Combining his twelve years of experience as well as his love of the game has allowed Holderby to make a name for himself as one of the more accomplished players in the Beach District. Last season, he was named to the All-Region team, the only member of his squad to earn that distinction.
Holderby is encouraged by the strengths of the Patriots this season. He notes that two areas in particular are strong for this team. “Overall, the hitting on this team is probably as good as it's been in a while. We definitely have a lot of strong hitters. Also, everyone seems to play pretty good defense.”
Holderby, like the rest of his teammates, envisions the Patriots in the state tournament in 2006. He says that the team is working hard – from jump training to plyometrics – to do just that.
While he is looking to play volleyball in college, probably at George Mason University, Holderby's aspirations stretch far beyond college. “After school, I'd like to go play professional volleyball in Italy,” he says.
With an attitude like that – and experience to boot – Holderby is poised to make that dream a reality very soon.
