Jets sweep Daegu Derby in season-opener friendly

The varsity and junior varsity (JV) boys’ volleyball teams clashed against Daegu Middle High School (DMHS) in the Daegu Derby at the Jetnasium on Sept. 5. Despite an early-season game with major rotational changes, both crews prevailed, with JV winning in three sets and varsity coming out on top in a five-set thriller. 

With the friendly scheduled earlier than in the past, they had almost no time to prepare. Fortunately, unlike last year, the Warriors brought enough athletes for a JV match. The junior varsity roster mostly consisted of freshmen and new players, which posed a challenge on the court.

Set one illustrated ups and downs. Inexperienced youngsters struggled to adapt to the fast-tempo game, but individual players demonstrated precise skills. New setter Daniel Beck (25) delivered consistent sets, and veteran outside hitter Jason Kim (10) supported the freshmen and sophomores to adapt to the pace of the game. However, sloppy errors piled up on the court, which concluded the game 15-25.

Set two plotted a different story. 6′ 1″ freshman middle blocker Honglim Jin (2) built impenetrable walls at the net, while freshman libero Min Kim (4) covered the ground and delivered immaculate receives to the setter. Their teamwork improved as the game progressed, resulting in a 25-18 win.

In a 1-1 tie, the squad locked in for their final set. Back-and-forth rallies intensified the game, but strong communication between the boys allowed them to come out on top of the Warriors. Reaching the halfway point first, they carried on their momentum, ending with a 15-8 victory.

“It was great that we won the game. We had lots of mistakes on the court, but as we played we made less mistakes. I look forward to our season and to play more games,” JV middle blocker Abdukodir Azizov said. 

Moving on from the junior varsity match, the varsity game started in no time. With former libero Noah Don gone, Coach Willette implemented a two middle rotation against the Warriors. Starting lineups consisted of: setter Bryan Lee (9), right side Justin Son (25), middle blockers Maddox Jolly (8) and Alex Seo (12), and outside hitters Evan Rossmeisl (2) and Alvin Park (3).

Set one belonged to the Jets. While ace Rossmeisl’s (2) acrobatic spikes gave Jets the lead, DMHS consistently dug up hits and tips. But, errors accumulated from the Warriors, as the Jets used this opportunity to widen the score gap, taking the first set (25-17).

“It was our first game in a while, and we didn’t have much practice before the game, so we weren’t that ready. Our offense was pretty good but we gotta improve defensively,” Rossmeisl (2) said.

Set two came as a burden for the boys. Still adjusting to the game environment, defensive positioning and serve receives began to crumble. As the set turned into a lopsided match, bench players Jonathan Sim (22), Luke Cho (99) and William Seo (28) subbed onto the court. Freshman outside hitter Sim demonstrated a veteran-like performance, balancing sharp tips and powerful hits. Catching up point by point, they narrowed the score 23-24 but fell short to take the win (23-25).

“I enjoyed playing volleyball at this high level for the first time. I think I did a good job not messing up too bad, and I think I can improve on making my hits more consistent. I plan to practice more,” Sim (22) said. 

Set three was a neck-and-neck battle. The Warriors adjusted their mistakes every set and improved rally by rally. However, middle blocker Jolly (8)’s nasty solo block up at the net shifted the game’s flow. In a 22-22 tie situation, middle blocker Seo (12) smashed acute spikes to give them the lead. For the final point, Sim (22) executed a flawless tip, giving a 2-1 set lead for the Jets (25-23).

“Watching the game was intense, especially seeing a lot of the players play really well. I’m joining the team next year, and it motivates me to train harder,” eighth grader Aiden Hwang said.

Moving onto set four, the momentum shifted toward DMHS. Right side Justin Son (25), despite his right ankle injury, showcased powerful hits unblockable by the Warriors. But, the Jets made costly blunders. Down 17-24, Seo (12) made six consecutive serves that created freeball chances, but it was not enough for them to take the win, forcing them to concede the fourth set (23-25). 

The final set became a race to 15. With the starting lineup back on the court, they quickly regained their energy and play style. Eager to take the win, players motivated one another to dive for the ball. They secured a 15-8 win, sealing a 3-2 victory against the Warriors. 

“My expectations weren’t that high coming in, we thought we would be bad but we kept the game close. You all are good, especially number 2, your outside hitter got some nasty hits. I hope we go against this close next time, it was a fun time,” varsity middle blocker Taeyun Walker said.

Despite no games upcoming for the boys in the immediate future, they prepare for the Korean International Schools Activities Conference (KISAC) tournament held on Oct. 22-24. With new rotations and players adapting into their roles, they look forward to winning more matches this season.

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