Before the upcoming KISAC (Korean International Schools Activities Conference) tournament on Oct. 23-25, the boys’ volleyball team headed to the base for a Daegu rivalry match against the DMHS (Daegu Middle High School) Warriors on Oct. 21. In contrast with the 3-0 blowout last month, DIS fell short after a tough battle until set five.
The game started in no time. Middle blocker Alex Seo (12) fired seven consecutive float jump serves that tilted the floor. Although the Jets struggled with miscommunication after a full month without matches, they executed clean plays that reignited their energy (25:14).
After taking the lead, Coach Willette and Co-coach Marchan subbed bench members, consisting of varsity subs and JV starters. While individual players demonstrated strong skills, their lack of synchronization led to costly mistakes on the court. The Warriors took advantage of the blunders and edged out the win in a deuce battle (26:24)
After handing down set two, varsity starters filled up the stadium to secure the third set. Outside hitter Evan Rossmeisl (2) spearheaded the Jets’ offense, as he smashed acrobatic spikes down the line. Libero Noah Hwang (20) dove corner to corner, digging up tips and pushes from the opponent. Their teamwork paid off with a 25:20 win.
“Although we took the third set, I saw massive improvement in DMHS’s play. Especially since they had more friendly matches before playing with us again, I think they had opportunities to adjust and fix their mistakes,” said setter Bryan Lee (9).
With only one set left to go, DIS remained composed. The squad initially took the lead, but DMHS’s sharp receives and height advantage put pressure onto DIS. Slight errors gave constant free ball opportunities for the Warriors, as they seized every chance. Despite getting neck and neck, the boys handed down their winning set to the Warriors (23:25).
Aside from mistakes, poor ref calls drained the Jets. “The fourth set was a close set for us. It feels like we all played decently, but some ref calls were questionable, and it really got into us. DMHS did play well, but with the right ref calls, I’m confident we would have gotten the win,” said Hwang (20).
Then came the final set. With 15 more points to acquire victory in the Daegu derby, the Jets locked in. However, the Warriors successfully carried on their momentum from the previous set, crushing the Jets down. While the crew tried to bounce back, they failed to recover from the large gap, falling 12:15.
“It was a very tough match. I think we understand the mistakes that we need to fix, and I’m honestly happy that these mistakes happen in the friendly. Although we are all upset about the loss, we have to move on, and prepare ourselves for KISAC,” said Hwang (20).
DMHS players also reflected positively on the rematch. “It was very fun to play against the Jets. Unlike last time, we got the win, which made the team and myself very happy. We hope to meet them again both home and away next season,” said DMHS middle blocker Jaxie O’connor (9).
Although the defeat left a bitter aftertaste, it opened a clear path for improvement and adjustments. With excitement and determination ahead of the KISAC tourney, they aim to reach new heights.
