Bloomington boys volleyball ready for a family feud at IU's Wilkinson Hall
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More than the usual bragging rights are on the line in the first-ever meeting between the boys volleyball teams at Bloomington North and South on Monday, April 20.
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For the Hodgson household, it's personal.
Father Justin, the head coach at South, vs. eldest son Gavin, starting setter and senior leader for the Cougars. Mother and younger son choosing sides. Gavin wouldn't have it any other way.
"My youngest will go to South," Justin said. "The funny thing is, we are a highly competitive family. I asked Gavin before Charles (Cook) was hired at North, 'Do you want me to resign at South and apply at North?'
"'No way,' he said, 'I'd rather beat you.' It's going to be a fun and positive event. I want to see them succeed and us succeed and grow the sport."
That said, Justin noted, "I've lost at nothing to him."
From video games to volleyball, Justin hasn't given an inch. Gavin has asked for none and is firing his team up in their inaugural season. The Cougars have already picked up the program's first two wins, splitting four matches in a tournament at Jeffersonville.
"We started (last) week off going super heavy with practice," North coach Charles Cook said. "Attacking things we were not doing right in the tournament. Then, when things got a bit more laid back, I had a one-on-one with Gavin. I asked him how he was feeling about the game at Wilkerson.
"He said, 'I'm anxious but so excited.' He's in a state of locked in. You can tell anytime he's out there, he's displacing himself to the floor at Wilkerson."
This is the family sport. Gavin has been playing club long enough that he's earned a spot with Franklin College's team next year. So this is one of his best chances to make a splash for boys volleyball in Bloomington.
"We're a volleyball sort of family at this point," Justin said. "Both kids are in it year-round. I've coached girls and boys. We spend a lot of time talking and watching volleyball.
"It's give and take. He asks questions. I get updates where he's at. It's a positive conversation. I want both of us to be successful. It's a thing where we're bonding. My youngest is a setter too, so just learning from (Gavin) how he's doing things."
IU's Wilkinson Hall to host
It was supposed to be a South home game, but Hodgson felt a historic game like this needed a big-time environment.
Cook, who attended a coaching clinic IU coach Steve Aird put on, also had the same idea. Aird, a former collegiate player himself, was amenable, as was the school, which waived the usual fees.
The JV game begins at 6 p.m., varsity to follow sometime after 7, with free admission for everyone as boys volleyball attempts to make a foothold in the city.
"I took the opportunity to take the guys to the IU-Kentucky spring scrimmage last Friday," Cook said. "I told them, this is the place you're going to play. You could see a lot of stomachs drop. They were excited for it."
North and South have played past rivalry matchups in baseball, softball, cross country, swimming, and soccer at IU facilities in the past. It will be interesting to see how a pair of teams with many young players still getting used to playing in front of crowds of any kind will handle the hoopla.
"I know our boys are excited," Justin said. "Anytime North and South play each other, it's always a good rivalry game. But to be on that bigger stage is a unique experience. It's almost been a bit distracting this week because they are so looking forward to Monday night."
The two schools will possibly meet again at the end of the regular season at North.
Scouting report
South's program has a one-year head start on North, winning three matches last year. But at the same time, this latest squad is still learning how to win.
"In some ways, it's been easier," Hodgson said. "There's more of a rhythm now, and we have a little more structure and know what we're doing. The parents are buying in. But for the kids, only one played club in the off-season. Many of the others had other commitments, so open gyms were hit and miss.
"So skill-wise, we've not taken big leaps. It's still a new sport for many of them. We're 0-7 and we've still had moments of inconsistency but far less of them this year. We see them coming along and in another season or two, we'll be a more well-oiled machine."
It hasn't helped that South has been hit with sickness. Just seven were available for the last match. But Hodgson has been adjusting his starting lineup to create better matchups and take advantage of the hot hand. So he's still finalizing everyone's roles on the team.
Seniors Liam Pleskac (RSH), John Ward (S) and Landen Yaggi (OH) are joined by juniors, middle Caden Ward and Dhiyaa Al-Risi (OH/L) and sophomore Max Davis (OH). Sophomore Keller Mobley is also filling a libero/passing role.
"I like where the boys are at," Hodgson said. "We've had good growth, and they're learning how to play well together."
North found itself in a competitive match right off the bat, falling 25-27, 25-19, 25-22, 26-24 to Terre Haute South. The Cougars went on to fall to Jeffersonville and Evansville Memorial and beat Anderson and Reitz.
That first win was a big moment far away from home.
"It was great," Cook said. "For me personally, we had a great first home game. That's the first time we've been on the floor that long. We lost, but our spirits were up considering we slapped this together in two months.
"Then got the first win. We had a lot of parents came down and seeing the smiles on everybody's faces, knowing all that it took, it was a good time."
Early on, seniors Gavin Hodgson (S), Riley Thackery (MB), Ramsey Mills (MB), Coen Berin (L), Chris Estivil-Kilmer (OH), and Jacen Madera (OH), starting with junior Christopher Crane (RS), sophomore Eli Schaeffer, and freshmen Roger Sargent and Grayson Hammersley, subbed.
"We've been trying a couple things," Cook said. "We started running a 5-1 with Gavin the main setter, then at the tourney we tried a 4-2 with the setter and passer in the back. They're both offensive, so it's almost like a 6-6 since they're all hitters."
The report from the Hodgson household is that the matchup should be a barn burner.
"The teams are pretty evenly matched as far as I can tell," Justin said. "It should be a competitive match."
Gavin's take? "We're not losing," Cook said.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington's boys volleyball teams ready for family feud at Wilkinson Hall