By Andy Walter

CAMDEN — Like most of his teammates, Matthew Ascetta had never played any serious volleyball before last season.

But the Caesar Rodney junior quickly discovered that there was nothing like spiking a ball after a day in the classroom.

“It was so much fun,” said Ascetta. “It’s super therapeutic, honestly. After a long day of school you just come out here and really take it out on the volleyball.”

A year later, the Riders are not only still enjoying the fledgling boys’ version of volleyball but they’re starting to get pretty good at it.

CR takes a 5-0 record into a 5:30 p.m. home match on Wednesday with Henlopen Conference rival Smyrna.

Considering last year was the program’s inaugural season, Riders’ coach Jake Bluhm was happy with CR’s 6-7 record.

Now, after learning the basics and having an off-season for the players to work on their skills, the bar is set a little higher this spring.

“They understand the game a little bit more,” said Bluhm. “So we’re getting to be much more systematic in how we play. We’re able to run some things and actually be able to put together what we call competent volleyball.

“It’s been a fun ride. They’re still learning the flow of the game. But, in terms of what we’re able to accomplish, the expectations are much higher.”

Junior setter Aidan Webb was another Rider who had never really played volleyball before last year. He said he’d always wanted to try it, though.

“When I heard they were going to start a team, I was like, ‘I’ve got to jump on the opportunity,’” said Webb.

After he started playing the sport, Ascetta discovered that he had a pair of relatives who had played for Trinidad’s women’s national volleyball team.

He likes the teamwork required to play the game well.

“It’s a really connecting sport,” said Ascetta. “I liked that it was a really different energy than any other sport I played.”

Junior Aidan Webb says CR has learned about volleyball since last season. CAESAR RODNEY SCHOOL DISTRICT PHOTO.

While he began the season on the junior varsity squad, Webb was starting on the varsity by the end of the spring.

He said CR can definitely play offense a lot faster than it could a year ago.

“This year we’ve created a lot better offense,” said Webb. “Last year was a little bit slower — everybody was learning. But now we’re a lot faster. It’s just fun.

“It’s so much better. It’s a huge change from last year. ... Last year you were really worried about what you were doing. Now it’s more like how can we score on every point?”

CR knows it’s schedule is only going to get more difficult, though.

The Riders still have to face Smyrna and Cape Henlopen twice. CR goes to Lewes on Friday to face the defending state champion Vikings.

The Riders can take some inspiration from CR’s girls’ volleyball team, which reached the DIAA state semifinals in the fall for only the second time.

“They had a great run this year,” said Ascetta.

Bluhm, who coaches the girls’ program, as well, thinks trying to make the state tournament is a reasonable goal for the boys’ squad. There are 29 players in the program between the varsity and JV.

“Our goal is to compete in states, not just make states,” said Bluhm, the former Delaware State assistant coach. “When we start playing some better competition, we’ll see where we are.”

As a second-year program, the Riders are creating their own tradition in the sport.

The players say that’s exciting.

“Because it’s new, we’ve been able to put our spot on what we think is good volleyball,” said Ascetta. “It’s given us the chance to get a lot of momentum going, too. I think there’s a lot of confidence going around.

“This is an opportunity for everyone who’s playing this new sport in this state to kind of put yourself on the map. Now is the time to do it.”

Extra points

•In a rematch of last year’s DIAA state finals, Salesianum topped Cape Henlopen 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-19) on Friday.

The loss snapped an 11-match winning streak for the Vikings, whose only two setbacks in the last two seasons have been to the Sals.

•Dover, which is playing its first season in the sport, is slated to host its first match with CR on April 17.

Ruggerio.com