Wildcats don’t let down despite heavy turnover
Las Vegas High boys volleyball coach Sue Thurman posted four words on the gym doors at the Wildcats’ tryouts, focusing her team’s entire season on them.
Four words, two clauses, one simple idea.
“Players change, expectations don’t.”
Despite turning over a roster of all but one starter from last year’s Sunrise Region champions, the Wildcats (17-1, 14-0) have taken that motto to heart and cruised to an undefeated Northeast League season and a No. 1 seed in the region playoffs.
Matches start at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with the Sunrise Region at Las Vegas and the Sunset at Legacy. Both regions will play at Las Vegas on Thursday.
“There’s no down time in practice,” Thurman said. “We don’t have time to waste. We know there are teams with a lot more court experience. These kids have bought into that. They have pride in their program and pride in their school. They’ve seen what they’re predecessors have done, and they don’t want to be that team that didn’t get the job done.”
Despite new faces in starting positions, the Wildcats are well-acquainted.
“I’ve played with most of these guys since I was a freshman, even though some of them were on JV last year,” said Luke Hansen, the team’s sole returning starter. “We’re all really good friends. We hang out outside of volleyball. We know each other really well. During the offseason, we call each other, go play and just have fun. We’ve all played with each other before.”
The senior setter, who has compiled 555 assists, 114 kills, 71 blocks, 117 digs and 30 aces, has been crucial to Las Vegas continuing its streak of seven consecutive Northeast titles.
“I tried to lead by example,” Hansen said. “I wanted to show them what they’re supposed to be doing, show them the effort, show them to give 110 percent all the time.”
He has also received a boost from Jimichael Baker, a senior middle blocker who is like a brother to Hansen — both on and off the court.
“As a whole team, we’re not just a volleyball team. I would rather picture ourselves as a family,” said Baker, who has 128 kills and 39 blocks. “We hang out outside of volleyball. We’ve been together for four years, and some of us for six or seven years.”
The 6-foot-3-inch Baker is commanding in the middle of the court, drawing opponents’ blockers and benefiting the Wildcats’ hitters. Tyler Crawford has 121 kills on 24.5 percent hitting, and Garrett Jones totaled 103 kills for Las Vegas.
“Tyler Crawford has stepped up huge,” Thurman said. “He’s worked hard in the weight room, he’s constantly working on his game, and he’s 10 times better than he was last year. He’s really accepted his role, and he’s one of Luke’s go-to guys.”
Each player has accepted his own role, but Hansen regularly bounces between the back row and front row as the Wildcats’ do-everything setter. While dishing out 5.2 assists per set, he also averages 1.6 kills, 1.1 blocks and 1.6 digs.
But he prefers to throw his team into the attack.
“I have complete confidence with anybody on my team,” Hansen said. “I know they can handle anything that’s thrown at them. I have complete faith in them.
“You could consider us like six best friends. Or seven. Or eight. In fact, everyone on the team really is.”
