Intense practices and games with excited fans are just two things that characterize the 2014 season for California Baptist University’s men’s volleyball team.
Starting the season off on the wrong foot seemed to be a motivation for the men’s volleyball team at CBU, since that first loss was followed by three wins.
Of course, there is more to the volleyball season than just the games; the team is going through many changes and adjustments this season.
“There’s a lot of new stuff going on,” said Wes Schneider, head men’s volleyball coach. “We’re trying to start over, you know? Last year we had a lot of great senior leadership, and this year (we’re) kind of starting a new era of CBU volleyball and so we’ve got a lot of new guys and a lot of young talent.”
Not only is this Schneider’s second season as coach;,the team also has a lot of new players this year, as incoming freshmen replace seniors who have graduated.
Schneider described the team as pretty young and new because of all the new players stepping up as new leaders.
The game against California State University at Long Beach, Jan. 10, proved to be a challenge. The Lancers lost against the 49ers, who currently rank No. 1 in the nation.
Even with that, the CBU men have stayed focused and determined throughout this season.
So far, this season seems to be a close one for the Lancers, with four wins and five losses. They still have plenty of opportunities left to end the season successfully. With 23 games left in this season, the team is not even halfway through the season.
With games ranging from the University of Hawaii to University of California at Los Angeles, this 2014 volleyball season has a lot in store for both the team and its fans.
“I know these guys can win this for us,” said freshman political science major and spectator Bryant Felix. “You can just see the determination.”
Lancer fans are not the only ones who said they hope the team ends this season in victory.
“I’m hoping we win all of (the remaining games),” Schneider said. “But I think the most important thing is that we learn how to stay focused on what we’re trying to accomplish and be disciplined to what we’re trying to build here as far as a program and a tradition.”
Discipline goes a long way for the men of the volleyball team, who put in more than 10 hours a week of practice.
With this kind of leadership, dedication and the support of their friends and family and, of course, their fans, there is no doubt that CBU Lancers can end this season in success.
