When you look at Culver City High School’s boys volleyball team, you notice their lack of size.
Second, they don’t look very athletic.
But when they step onto the court your opinions quickly change to positive thoughts. Competitive, enthusiastic and passionate – that is what the volleyballers are.
Coach Joe Manzo and his assistants deserve a lot of the credit.
The coaches have taken a group with only four seniors and produced a team that is 4-3 in the Ocean League and is 9-12 for the season.
They are in third place.
“It’s been a season for me go be patient,” said Manzo during the recent Culver City Invitational Volleyball Tournament.
“We have a lot of new kids because we graduated nine players last year. We are young. We are learning.
“We are holding down our position, and right now we are beating the teams we are supposed to beat.”
Manzo said the team is not as strong as in recent years. “But these kids have heart. They enjoy the game.”
That energy was on display last Saturday at the Del Goodyear gym during the invitational.
Volleyballs were flying all over the place as two courts had matches being played simultaneously.
Culver City made it to the finals against a tall, talented La Canada. The Centaurs loss the match, but just making it to the finals showed what kind of season they are having.
“The tournament is a good fundraiser,” said Manzo, in his fifth year coaching the boys and girls programs.
“This is good for our JV players. They can come out here, work and watch all of these varsity players.”
The JV players don’t have to look far if they want to watch and learn from a good player.
Culver City’s Kyle Johnson is one of the best players in West Los Angeles. A three-sport star, Johnson also excels in football and basketball. In volleyball he is on his way to setting a school record in kills. He already has 231.
The senior is happy and surprised with the development of the team. “Better than I thought it would be,” said Johnson, who will be playing volleyball at U.C. Santa Cruz the next four years. “We thought it was going to be a rebuilding year, but everyone has improved. We are peaking at the right time. We can make the playoffs.”
Jonathan Cummings, Beck Garcia, Ethan Small, Alex Stewart, Coleman Houston and Travis Tarpley all have sharply improved.
Thursday is the next volleyball match, at home against Hawthorne at 3:15.
The season finale is Tuesday at Beverly Hills at 3:15.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
