The OVS boys’ volleyball team made history earlier this month with a first-round CIF playoff win over Gabrielino High School.
The boys won the game 3-1, getting contributions from every player who took the floor.
“It was really awesome,” OVS coach Joli Ruby said. “They are the hardest working team I’ve ever coached collectively.”
The team changed a lot since the beginning of the season.
Instead of only trying to hit the ball hard and relying on pure strength, it ended the season by playing smarter, winning more games, and creating longer rallies.
The team also focused more on defense this year, addressing an area where it had struggled earlier in the season.
The team improved greatly under the expert guidance of Ms. Ruby, who started playing competitive volleyball when she was 11. She played club throughout high school, beach, and then high school volleyball, leading Ventura High School to a CIF champiionship in 2016.
She played four years of indoor college volleyball at the Division 1 level while earning her undergraduate degree, and then played another year of Division 1 beach volleyball while earning her master’s degree.
Coach Ruby also has extensive experience coaching volleyball teams at camps, beaches, and indoor gyms. However, this is her first year as the head coach.
“I personally love being a head coach, and having the decisions,” she said.
The players were happy to have her as well. While the team suffered a close, second-round CIF playoff loss to Whittier Christian, players said they could feel momentum shift during the season as the squad improved.
Junior Vaughn Rogers had an outstanding performance this season, and he said he was pleased with the end of the season.
“It was unfortunate that Harry (Yink) sprained his ankle, it could’ve gone a lot farther,” Vaughn said. “But I’m really happy with where we were able to make it this year.”