Work: the theme of this year’s volleyball program.

To the players means the act of dedicating themselves to the game and putting forth their best effort. To both the girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams it means dedication and giving their best effort. And, they are living up to all expectations even though this year, both the boy’s and girl’s teams have been thrown a twist.

Varsity Head Coach and World History I and II teacher Jason Zuidema has stepped up to coach both teams for the first time. Under Zuidema’s leadership, the boys’ team is once again on their way to the state finals, while the girls’ team has flourished this season winning second place in Conference 1 and is now in the regional semi-finals.

Now, with not one, but two teams to coach, Zuidema’s goal is to lead not only the boys’ team to another state title, but the girls’ team as well.

“I take my responsibility as a coach very seriously. I have a competitive desire to work hard and to be successful. I try to instill necessary skills and knowledge into my players so they can be successful as well. I expect them to have the same desire to work hard and learn so they can reap the benefits of their hard work,” Zuidema said.

It is uncommon in high school sports for a coach to lead both a boys and girls team. However, when the position opened up, Zuidema applied, and got the job.

According to junior Christy Bottomly, having Zuidema coach both teams has affected the girls more because his practices now mirror the boys. Although many of the girls are learning new techniques that are difficult it is a challenge that they enjoy.

Both teams, who are now a part of Conferences 1, instead of the former Beach District, work hard to live up to the expectations of their coach.

“The girls’ team is much more fundamentally sound now,” junior Russell Dervay said.  “Their offense has improved, as well as their blocking.”

Furthermore, bonds have formed within both teams and the chemistry shows on the court.

“Our team is pretty close, we’ve all been playing together for a while now, and I think that it benefits us to have such a great group of girls with positive attitudes. We do everything as a team including: lunches, warm-ups, and fitness. I think because of these reasons we will be solid competitors this season,” senior captain, Tylar McGill said.

Although time managing and practices can be tiring, the thrill of winning a game is unlike any other.

“There is no better feeling at the end of the day than knowing both teams have won, but sometimes coaching two matches in a row can be just plain exhausting. For example, the girls upset Ocean Lakes in an exciting 5 set match, but the boys took Ocean Lakes in 4. Both games were equally intense, exciting, and draining. But at the end of the day, both teams had won an exciting game against a top competing team,” Zuidema said.